31 December 2004	Friday	18 Ziqa'ad 1425

PARIS, Dec 30: French authorities on Wednesday placed under investigation two assistants of a French lawmaker, as part of a probe into a failed freelance mission to free two reporters held hostage in Iraq , a source close to the investigation said.

The two men, Philippe Brett and Philippe Evanno, are being investigated for "intelligence with a foreign power or organization or its agents, of a nature likely to harm the fundamental interests of the nation, its foreign policy and the safeguard of its population", said the source.

They are to remain free on bail pending the inquiry, but have been forbidden from leaving the country or coming into contact with any other person implicated in the case.

French authorities have opened a preliminary criminal probe into Didier Julia, a deputy in President Jacques Chirac's ruling UMP party, who headed the failed mission to free the French reporters in September. Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot were finally released by their hostage-takers last week. -AFP