French PM Fillon admits gifts given by Egyptian President Mubarak

PARIS: French Prime Minister Francis Fillon on Tuesday admitted receiving gifts and benefits from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported.

Fillon acknowledged that Mubarak paid the holidays expenses for the Prime Minister and his family last New Year in Egypt. In addition, the controversial Egyptian leader lent Fillon a private plane.

The story first appeared in a local newspaper and the Prime Minsiter's office released a statement on Tuesday detailing the cricumstanfces of the holidays. Fillon and his family went on a trip near Egypt's Nile River from December 26, 2010 until January 2, 2011.

The Prime Minister said that he was making this information public in the interests of transparency. The revelation surfaced as France's Foreign Minister Alliot-Marie is under the spotlight for her links with former Tunisian President Ben Ali.

Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has been under calls for resignation after it was known that she had links with close allies of ousted Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Alliot-Marie said that it she made a mistake by borrowing the private jet owned by a businessman who is also an associate of Ben Ali and his family. The event took place during the riots in the African country that led to Ben Ali's dismissal.

"The only solution that would allow Alliot-Marie to recover a little dignity and this government to recover a little credibility in the eyes of the French people, is her resignation," said Socialist Party spokesman Benoît Hamon on Monday.

(BNO NEWS )