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Former French president Jacques Chirac has died aged 86.

The controversial leader was in office for 12 years, but saw his legacy tarnished when he was convicted of corruption in 2011.

Chirac - nicknamed 'Le Bulldozer' - served as president between 1995 and 2007, having earlier served as Prime Minister for two spells, and Mayor of Paris between 1977 and 1995.

He was also nicknamed Houdini because of his knack for wriggling out of tight spots.

Renowned for his extra marital affairs, as mayor of Paris he ordered the council to buy a coach fitted out with a bedroom so he could meet his lovers whilst on official engagements.

His office staff even reportedly referred to him as “Mr Three Minutes, Shower Included”.

Nevertheless he maintained a public persona as a loveable rogue, and in 2003 enjoyed approval ratings of 90% - although these quickly plunged in the years that followed.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Four years after his retirement he was given a two year suspended prison sentence for diverting public funds and abusing public confidence during his time as mayor.

The death was confirmed by the former president's son-in-law Frédéric Salat-Baroux.

A minute's silence was held at the French National Assembly, and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker described him as a "great statesman" and "great friend".

Chirac had rarely been seen in public since the death of his daughter in 2016, and was looking increasingly frail.

He was famously one of the main world leaders to oppose the war in Iraq in 2003, saying: "War is always a last resort.

"It is always proof of failure. It is always the worst of solutions, because it brings death and misery."

The former president was also the first head of state since World War Two to acknowledge that France had played a role in the Holocaust, rounding up 76,000 Jews who were sent to death camps.

Chirac had a political career dating back to 1962, when he was plucked from a civil service role to become chief of staff for Prime Minister Georges Pompidou.

It was Pompidou who publicly acknowledged Chirac's ability to get things done and gave him the 'bulldozer' nickname.

He had a difficult relationship with British PM Margaret Thatcher, once asking: “What more does the bag want, my balls on a platter?”

And he also said of Britain: "You can’t trust people who cook as badly as that.”

But his legacy suffered a fatal blow when he became the country's first former president to be convicted of corruption, in relation to a party funding scandal during his years as mayor of Paris.

He had been immune from prosecution while holding the top office, but faced legal action soon after stepping aside amid concerns about his health.

After his conviction, which he did not appeal, lawyer Georges Kiejman said: “What I hope is that this ruling doesn’t change in any way the deep affection the French feel legitimately for Jacques Chirac.”