Chirac says he never used public funds for personal enrichment

French prosecutors say corruption charges against former French President Jacques Chirac should be dropped.

Two years ago Mr Chirac was put under preliminary investigation for misusing public funds while he was mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.

It is alleged millions of euros were used to provide bogus jobs to political associates and their relatives.

The public prosecutor's office now says it is not worth pursuing the case. Mr Chirac has always denied wrongdoing.

Prosecutors say that the statute of limitations has expired for alleged crimes committed before 1992, and that for those after that time, there is insufficient evidence to pursue a prosecution.

The decision on whether to follow the recommendation, or to put Mr Chirac and several others on trial, now rests with the investigating judge, Xaviere Simeoni.

The bogus jobs investigation is only one of several involving Mr Chirac, however.

Judges will continue to investigate other allegations of misuse of public funds dating from his time as Paris mayor.

The former president insists that Paris municipal funds were never "devoted to ambitions other than acting for the Parisians.

"There was never personal enrichment," he said.