Judicial officials in France say thirty-seven people are to stand trial in connection with a multi-million dollar corruption case.

The charges come at the end of an eight-year investigation into allegations that the once state-owned French oil company, Elf, used bribery to win contracts around the world.

Among the accused are the former head of Elf, Loik Le Floch-Prigent, and his deputy, Alfred Sirven.

Investigations into four other people - including the former French interior minister, Charles Pasqua - were dropped.

The trial is due to start in Paris in March.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service