French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has suffered another blow to his campaign as an allied political party withdrew its support.

Axar.az reports that, the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI) called on Mr Fillon's Republican Party to choose another candidate in the wake of a scandal over payments.

It is alleged his wife and children were paid for parliamentary work they never carried out. However, Mr Fillon is refusing to stand down despite the increasing pressure.

Separately, National Front candidate Marine Le Pen has refused to attend a summons over misuse of EU funds.
Her legal advisers said she would not attend before the election. "Of course she won't go," her lawyer told reporters.