French Court Rejects Lawsuit Over Baghdad Embassy Property

�? ?A Paris administrative court ruled it is not competent to hear a lawsuit by descendants of Iraqi Jewish owners of a building used by France�s embassy in Baghdad.

�? ?The families are seeking over �21 million in unpaid rent and moral damages, saying France stopped paying them in 1974 and instead paid Iraqi authorities.

�? ?The court said the lease is not governed by French law, effectively directing the families to pursue the case in Baghdad.

�? ?Lawyers called the ruling �surreal,� saying France is occupying a building it does not own, and vowed to continue legal action.