The Official Inquest has been thrown into chaos - when the French paparazzi refused to testify. For the second time in two weeks, the no-shows left a hole in the schedule and meant there was nobody to give evidence. France’s failure to ensure that its citizens turn up to the inquest - in apparent breach of European Union law and its own domestic legislation - is threatening to boil over into an international crisis amid claims of an official cover-up. The coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, has asked Britain's Justice Secretary Jack Straw to intervene personally with his French counterpart, Rachida Dati.  He wants Mr Straw to persuade the French to overturn a decision not to use powers to compel French witnesses to give evidence by video link. He is expected to brief the jury on developments this morning. "The coroner will be giving an update but we don't expect there to be any major developments," one of his officials disclosed last night. Then, instead of hearing top barristers question the photographers who pursued Diana and Dodi to the scene of their death in a Paris underpass 10 years ago, the jury will listen to evidence from police officers who questioned witnesses. Lord Justice Scott Baker has no powers to force French witnesses to give evidence to a British inquest. But - until 10 days ago - he was under the impression that the paparazzi would at least be forced to attend court in Paris to explain why they were reluctant to take the stand. Lawyers for Mohamed al -Fayed - whose son Dodi died with Diana when their car crashed in a Paris underpass on August 31st 1997 - fear the decision will turn the hearings into a "paper inquest”. They are concerned that other key witnesses will use the decision to refuse to give evidence, including French pathologists.




The pathologists are accused of fabricating - or at least covering up mistakes - over controversial blood tests on the couple's chauffeur Henri -Paul, which showed him to be over the drink-drive limit. Mohamed al -Fayed believes the French helped cover up a plot by British secret services to murder Diana and Dodi because of fears that she was pregnant and engaged to be married to Dodi - a Muslim. The inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice in London has heard that the French government has quietly decided not to compel its citizens to give evidence, using a section of the country's civil code that deals with matters affecting national interest. Michael Mansfield, QC, for Mr al -Fayed, suggested the French had no legal grounds to take that decision and were in breach of their own law, as well as European law, on providing help to a fellow EU nation. He read from the French government's own official explanation of protection of national interests, which said it applied only to secrets which, if released, would damage the country's military, economic, ecological or social interests."The French government are not entitled to withdraw their co-operation in the way that they have, very blandly, without explaining the reasons," said Mr Mansfield.



The court has heard claims that the French are using "subterfuge" to protect witnesses. Last week the coroner said it appeared the decision had been taken at a very high level. He added: "It seems we are controlled not by what you may or may not believe to be the position in the French law, but by what the French are actually prepared to do."Following further explanation from a British liaison magistrate in Paris, he told the court: "The decision to respond to my international letter of request in the terms that I've disclosed to you was taken in the minister's office and at a high level and appears to have been a political decision."... and just a thought from someone anonymous ......It makes me wonder what the French are hiding or are they afraid the world will see what a mess they made of this investigation ?If the police and investigation team had done their job properly, we wouldn't be having this investigation today. If the paparazzi will do anything for cash they will have been offered other work for money on the days of the trial and they would not turn up for the hearing. The other danger is if they tell the truth about that night, they could end up dead in a car accident too!