Photo dated March 1992 shows Jean-Bernard Merimee at the United Nations in New York. Merimee -- France's former representative at the UN Security Council -- was taken into custody by a judge investigating corruption linked to the Iraqi 'oil-for-food' programme.(AFP/File/Don Emmert)
French magistrate Philippe Courroye arrives at the financial magistrates' court in Paris, October 12, 2005 where police are detaining Jean-Bernard Merimee, a former French ambassador to the U.N. Security Council for questioning. Police have detained Merimee for questioning in a corruption inquiry over the U.N.-run oil-for-food program in Iraq, a judicial source said on Tuesday. Merimee was taken in by police on Monday over allegations he may have benefited from oil supplies allocated under the program by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the source said. REUTERS/Franck Prevel