PARIS - Former French president Jacques Chirac will face trial early next year on charges that he misused public funds during his tenure as Paris mayor, local media quoted sources from court as saying Thursday.

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Chirac was Paris mayor between 1977 and 1995 before becoming the head of state. He is suspected of paying illicit salaries to employees of unknown positions with public money while mayor.

The charges were based on two cases concerning 28 fictional employees. Chirac will be the first French president to face criminal charges since the founding of the Fifth Republic.

The court granted a request by Chirac's lawyer to combine the two similar cases into one, in a trial expected to last from March 7 to April 9 in 2011.

The 77-year-old ex-president has insisted he is innocent and said he would be ready to attend court.