Lawyers for ex-inmates of the Guantanamo prison camp have used documents released by WikiLeaks to argue for their acquittal in a French terrorism trial.

Five Frenchmen held at the prison were acquitted by a French court of terrorism charges in 2009, but a new trial was ordered.

As that trial opened Thursday, defense lawyers presented at least three U.S. diplomatic cables citing French anti-terrorist investigators.

They argued that it was inappropriate for French investigators to have discussed the ex-inmates' cases with American authorities.

The prosecutor dismissed the argument and urged the court to sentence the five to prison.