STORY: French people said on Monday (November 10) that the country's justice system appeared to not treat all citizens equally, after a Paris court ruled former French president Nicolas Sarkozy could be released while he appeals against his conviction.

Although people said they had expected Sarkozy to be released, some said they were surprised that it had happened so quickly.

"It was quite predictable. I think it clearly shows that there's a two-tier justice system and that some people aren't treated the same way as the rest," said lawyer Juliette Pottier.

Sarkozy left Paris' La Sante prison after the court ruling, just weeks after he started a five-year sentence for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya.

The former conservative president, 70, was jailed on October 21 after a court found him guilty in September of criminal conspiracy over efforts by close aides to procure funds for his 2007 presidential bid from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

He was acquitted of all other charges, including corruption and receiving illegal campaign financing.

The court said he did not represent a flight risk and therefore did not have to remain in prison until his appeal. His release was based on specific criteria, such as whether there was a risk he could flee, and is no indication of whether his appeal is likely to succeed.

Sarkozy has consistently denied wrongdoing, calling himself a victim of revenge and hatred. He did not attend the hearing in person but was taking part via video link from prison.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. SQUARE WITH PARIS COURT OF APPEALS IN BACKGROUND

2. PEOPLE CROSSING STREET

3. FRENCH FLAG FLYING

4. PEOPLE WALKING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) RETIREE BRIGITTE GLET (L) AND SALES ASSISTANT LAURENCE SIEGEL (R), SAYING:

LAURENCE: "Well, good for him. Then again, it's true that there's always the benefit of the doubt, but, all the same, I think he made a pact with the devil, so he'll pay for it at some point. There you go, it's good for him."

BRIGITTE: "Not everyone is treated the same way; there are some who, even if they appeal, they remain (in prison). Well, it's true that a president in prison isn't exactly the best image, but oh well, good for him, I guess."

6. (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAWYER, JULIETTE POTTIER, 26, SAYING:

"It was quite predictable. I think it clearly shows that there's a two-tier justice system and that some people aren't treated the same way as the rest."

7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) RELAXATION THERAPIST AND YOGA TEACHER FROM LILLE, ISABELLE NOULET, 56, SAYING:

"I'm thinking, I hope that justice is really doing its job, that it's impartial. It's not because he was president of the Republic that he should receive preferential treatment. That's it."

8. PEOPLE ENTERING METRO STATION

9. SIGN FOR METRO

10. (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAWYERS, JULIETTE POTTIER, 26, AND ANASTASIA (WHO DECLINED TO GIVE HER LAST NAME), 24, SAYING:

JULIETTE: "Honestly, (I'm surprised he was released) so quickly, yes, I thought that maybe they would make the effort to make it a little more (unintelligible)."

ANASTASIA: "It's true that compared to his statements just before going in, it's not very consistent, let's say."

JULIETTE: "Yeah, it's not very consistent. And then all the fuss surrounding it, the people who made such a big deal out of it, all the people waiting for him outside his house, as if... he's just another person, he's being judged for what he did and that's how it is. So there you go."

11. (SOUNDBITE) (French) RETIREE BRIGITTE GLET (L) AND SALES ASSISTANT LAURENCE SIEGEL (R), SAYING:

LAURENCE: "It was obvious. And well, I think he deserves to be outside, waiting like (former Socialist politician Dominique) Strauss-Kahn."

BRIGITTE: "There are plenty of people who waited for the outcome outside, so why not him?"

12. EXTERIOR OF COURTHOUSE

13. FLAGS ON COURTHOUSE

14. (SOUNDBITE) (French) RELAXATION THERAPIST AND YOGA TEACHER FROM LILLE, ISABELLE NOULET, 56, SAYING:

"It's not because he was president of the Republic. If there's evidence of criminal conspiracy, like any other French citizen, he should go to prison, that's all there is to it. On the contrary, I think he absolutely must be beyond reproach. When you're the head of a state, when millions of people, when millions of fellow citizens have placed their trust in him by electing him, well, I think he has a duty to be irreproachable. That's it."

15. VARIOUS OF NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL