51.   Ciller, the former prime minister, made the assertion in a live interview with the private television channel Show-TV.

52.   Philippe Leotard had already made this assertion during the police investigation into his alleged dealing, but the defence ministry denied it.

53.   Steinberg now admits that the president had no grounds for making this assertion and Norway has never indicated that it was ready to take such a step.

54.   The group made the assertion about the attempt last week in a communique sent to AFP.