Paris, Sep 22 (Xinhua) Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin went on trial Monday charged with plotting to discredit politicians including President Nicolas Sarkozy.

'I am here because of one man's determination, Nicolas Sarkozy,' Villepin said at a court here.

Villepin is accused of ordering a secret inquiry in January 2004 against several people, including Sarkozy, then interior minister, suspected of having received illegal commissions from the sale of French warships to Taiwan.

The case was brought against Villepin and three others after a list of suspects against whom the alleged inquiry was initiated mysteriously surfaced.

Villepin admitted giving the order to investigate the suspects having links with a bank in Luxembourg through which the money was allegedly transferred.