Coroner challenges Fayed to present proof at inquest

Mohamed Al Fayed on Monday was challenged to produce evidence to back up his claims that Princess Diana and his son Dodi were assassinated as the result of a conspiracy involving the royal family.

Lady Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, the coroner who will hear the inquest into the deaths, said she had not been given "a shred of evidence" about any of the allegations Fayed has made.

`No evidence'

Michael Mansfield, Fayed's legal counsel, said the Harrods boss wanted the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh to appear as witnesses. Prince Philip had not been interviewed about the deaths and had not explained his reasons for refusing an interview, he said. But Butler-Sloss said that if there was no evidence of a plot she would not present Fayed's allegations to the inquest jury.

"It would be enormously helpful if I had some evidence from Mr al Fayed's team to support allegations that are being made because at the moment there is not a shred of evidence given to me about any of those allegations, and for me to explore them I would need some evidence," she said.

Medical expert

It emerged on Monday that one of the French medical experts who investigated chauffeur Henri Paul's death has refused to give evidence to the inquest.

The two crucial witnesses are: Dominique Lecomte, the pathologist who conducted Paul's post mortem, and Gilbert Pepin, who tested his blood. It was not clear which of them has declined to cooperate.

At a preliminary hearing on Monday Butler-Sloss said: "This is a serious matter, but these are French citizens with their own rights. I don't have power to require anyone to attend from France."

The inquest could take up to eight months.