France, Sept. 25 -- Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty on Thursday of criminal conspiracy but cleared of corruption charges in the long-running case over suspected Libyan funding of his 2007 campaign.

Presiding judge Nathalie Gavarino told the Paris criminal court that as minister and president of the UMP, a centre-right party, Sarkozy had "allowed his close associates and political supporters - over whom he had authority and who were acting on his behalf".

They were able to approach Libyan authorities "in order to obtain or attempt to obtain financial support in Libya with a view to financing the 2007 campaign".

But the judges rejected the case made by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office, which had describ...