Chirac 'to reveal campaign details'

French President Jacques Chirac will announce his bid for re-election in early March, a member of his conservative party said today.

Neither Chirac nor Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has officially announced plans to run, but they are expected to be the top contenders in the two round elections scheduled for April 21 and May 5.

Dominique Perben, of the Rally for the Republic Party, said Chirac would announce his intentions ‘‘in the very first days of March,’’ allowing ‘‘two months of campaigning before the second round’’.