THE extreme-right French National Front leader, Mr Jean-Marie Le Pen, was quoted yesterday as saying he believes President Chirac is in the pay of Jewish organisations.

In a book to be published next week, extracts of which were made available to Renter, Mr Le Pen says he had long asked himself why Mr Chirac, a conservative Gaullist, was so hostile to the National Front.

"I am reduced to theories, and particularly one of them: Chirac is in someone's grasp. And whose? Jewish organisations and notably the notorious B'nai Brith," he was quoted as saying, using the name of a US-based Jewish masonic group.

Mr Le Pen was interviewed last June for the book, Roman dun President (A President's Story).