Francois Fillon set to tackle allegations of improper payments made to family members

   The centre-right candidate for the French presidency, Francois Fillon, is set to tackle allegations of improper payments made to family members, having denied wrongdoing and strongly defended his wife, Penelope.

  He will address supporters from his campaign headquarters, in what an aide described as a fight-back.
Fillon's bid has been overshadowed by claims, which he denies, that his wife and two of his children were paid for non-existent parliamentary work.
   Some in his Republican Party members, feel he should drop out of the race.
  Recent polls have suggested that he may be eliminated in the first round of the presidential election in April, paving the way for a possible run-off between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen.