The Quebec government is giving Montreal's mayor the benefit of the doubt after city hall was raided by the province's anti-corruption police squad.

The cabinet minister responsible for Montreal told reporters today that everyone involved should be presumed innocent, since
charges have not been laid. 

Jean-Francois Lisee says justice must be allowed to run its course.

The anti-corruption unit carried out numerous raids yesterday at Montreal's city hall and several other searches in different borough offices.

A news report said the new mayor, Michael Applebaum, and the man he recently replaced, Gerald Tremblay, were both among 25 people questioned by police.

Applebaum later told reporters that he was merely helping police as a participant in the investigation — and was not a target.

Photo: Ninon Pednault