Paris budget hits a setback

Paris - The strife-ridden Paris city hall sank deeper into chaos yesterday after the ruling right-wing coalition torpedoed the 2001 budget. The Mayor of Paris, Mr Jean Tiberi, formerly a close friend of President Jacques Chirac, denounced his one-time allies for killing off the package. Mr Chirac - mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995 - and his RPR party have distanced themselves from Mr Tiberi amid allegations that he was involved in widespread corruption.