India, Nov. 10 -- Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday was set to be freed from prison after a judge ordered his release from jail pending an appeals trial over Libyan funding.

He was convicted of criminal conspiracy over a plan for late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 electoral campaign.

During the examination of Sarkozy's request in court earlier on Monday, prosecutors had requested that the 70-year-old be freed after 20 days in jail. The former president had called his time in prison a "nightmare".

He will be banned from leaving French territory and from having contact with key individuals, including co-defendants and witnesses in the case, the court stated. An appeals trial is expected to take place la...