France, Sept. 25 -- A court in France on Thursday sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison after finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy in his trial over accusations the late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi helped fund his 2007 presidential camapign.

After he was cleared of corruption charges, the court ordered that the 70-year-old politician should be placed in custody at a later date.

Prosecutors have been given one month to inform the former head of state when he should go to prison.

"I will sleep in prison with my head held high," saidSarkozy after announcing he will appeal against the verdict which will remain in force despite his pledge to continue his fight to clear his name.

Presiding judge N...