French PM survives no-confidence vote

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on Wednesday survived a no-confidence vote sparked by accusations of a dirty-tricks campaign that have engulfed his government.

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on Wednesday survived a no-confidence vote sparked by accusations of a dirty-tricks campaign that have engulfed his government.

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A total of 190 members in the National Assembly, France's lower house, voted in favour, short of the 289 needed to pass. The motion was brought by the opposition Socialists and backed by a small grouping of centrists traditionally aligned with the government.