PARIS, Feb 14, 2007 – A French investigating judge summoned Djiboutian President Ismael Omar Guelleh for questioning about the 1995 death of a French judge in the east African country, a judicial official said Wednesday.

Investigating judge Sophie Clement summoned Guelleh for Friday, when he is expected in France for a summit of African leaders, the judicial official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

The investigator wants to talk to Guellah about French judge Bernard Borrel, whose charred body was found in October 1995 in Djibouti, a former French territory.

Guelleh was not likely to report to Clement, however. France's Justice Ministry weighed in on the case in a statement, saying that "in regard to international custody and the law, heads of state have the same immunity as diplomats, and as a result cannot be required to testify in a French judicial proceeding."

Borrel's widow alleged that her husband was assassinated and that Guelleh ordered the crime. French investigators at first supported Djibouti's claims that the judge committed suicide, but recent French medical and legal studies concluded that the judge was murdered. Four successive investigating magistrates have handled the sensitive case.

Guelleh was expected to attend a French-Africa summit of 40 heads of state and government scheduled for Thursday and Friday in the French Riviera city of Cannes.

Source: The Associated Press