French TV technician's 'bad joke' caused fear in Presidential palace

The French president's office filed a complaint against a television technician who brought an explosive device into the presidential palace during the Israeli premier's visit to France.

The technician for France 2 TV news "tried to bring an object resembling an explosive device into the palace" on July 27 during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said President Jacques Chirac's office.

France 2 said the technician, who was not identified, assured the station that he wasn't responsible, suggesting someone else stashed the phony device in his bag as a bad joke, the AP reports.

Both the technician and the publicly funded channel have filed their own complaints to try to clear up what happened, France 2 spokeswoman Christine Delavennat said.

"We hope that the ongoing investigations will shed light on this incident that stemmed from a stupid and malicious act," she said.