Sarkozy aides deny threat to quit euro

Madrid: Aides to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero all denied a report that Sarkozy had threatened to pull out of the euro.

El Pais reported that Sarkozy made the threat at a May 7 summit of European leaders to force Merkel to agree to a rescue package for heavily indebted euro members. The Madrid-based newspaper said Zapatero related the exchange at a meeting three days ago with members of his Socialist Party.

A spokeswoman for Sarkozy, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, said he never made those comments.