France, July 16 -- Equatorial Guinea sharply criticised France at the United Nations' top court on Tuesday, labelling its actions as "neo-colonial" in a long-running dispute over a lavish, multi-million-euro mansion in Paris that was confiscated by French authorities.

The Central African nation has petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue emergency measures to prevent France from selling the property, which was seized after the French courts convicted Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue- commonly known as Teodorin - of corruption.

French authorities confiscated the residence, which features a private cinema, a hammam, and marble fittings with gold taps, under legislation targeting wealth illicitly acquired by...