Michael Cole: accusations "entirely false"

Crash Driver "Did Not Hold Special Permit"

The Al Fayed organisation has rejected claims that Henri Paul did not hold the appropriate permit to drive the armoured Mercedes S-280.

Al Fayed spokesman Michael Cole has said allegations made by an unnamed member of staff at the Ritz Hotel are "entirely false". Mr Cole said Mr Paul, who also died in the accident, was legally permitted to drive the car.

Also, Mr Paul's family have rejected allegations by the public prosecutor that the driver was drunk with more than three times the permitted level of alcohol in his blood. His family is demanding new tests.

Mohammed Al Fayed's lawyer has said his client would pursue a civil case against the seven photographers arrested at the crash scene if he was not satisfied with the criminal charges.

Lawyers Condemn "Showbiz Justice"

Lawyers for some of the seven men, who have been placed under formal investigation by a French magistrate for the manslaughter of Princess Diana, have been protesting their clients' innocence.

The lawyers say the authorities are seeking scapegoats because of the high profile of the case. One lawyer has criticised what he described as "showbiz justice".

The seven accused -- six photographers and a driver -- were allowed to go back to their work on Wednesday on condition that they do not leave France.

Five of the seven - Nikola Arsov, of the Sipa agency; Jacques Langevin, of the Sygma agency; Laslo Veres, a freelance, Stephane Darmon, of the Gamma agency; and Serge Arnal of the Stills agency - were freed unconditionally. The two others - Romuald Rat, of Gamma, and Christian Martinez, of the Angeli agency - were released on FFr100,000 (£10,000) bail.

They are challenging the examining magistrate's accusations that they caused the deaths of the Princess, Dodi Fayed and their driver, and that they neglected to help them when their car crashed.

Rat: I tried to help Princess Diana

Romuald Rat interviewed on French TV

One of the paparazzi, Romuald Rat, has been interviewed on French television. He said that someone else had already called for help when he arrived on the scene. And he said he had tried to help Diana.

In a newspaper interview, another of the photographers claims he had been merely driving home when he came across the accident.

If the photographers are not charged with manslaughter, they still could face charges under what is known colloquially as the "Good Samaritan" law, which requires witnesses to an accident to give all assistance necessary to injured people. An offence is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Police are still waiting to interview the one person who may be able to give crucial evidence -- Dodi Fayed's bodyguard, the only survivor of the crash who is reported to have serious facial injuries. It could be weeks before he is able to tell police his version of events.