French president Nicolas Sarkozy tried to dispel worries about his health today in his first official appearance since being taken to hospital after collapsing while jogging.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was briefly admitted to hospital in secret in October for treatment of an abscess in his throat, the authors of a new book said today.

Pierre Messmer, who was France’s prime minister from 1972 to 1974, has died at age 91, former President Jacques Chirac said today.