French prosecutors on Tuesday sought suspended prison terms of three to 12 months for defendants accused of cyberbullying First Lady Brigitte Macron by spreading unsubstantiated claims about her gender.

Prosecutors also requested fines of up to 8,000 euros ($9,300) against the 10 defendants -- eight men and two women, aged 41 to 65 -- who have been accused of cyber-harassment targeting the French first lady.

The heaviest sentences were sought for three defendants described by prosecutors as "instigators," while the seven others were labelled "followers".

The trial comes after President Emmanuel Macron and his wife filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States at the end of July, in connection with a false claim amplified and repeated online that Brigitte Macron was assigned male at bi

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