French President gives snappers a dressing-down

French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost his temper with two American news photographers covering his holiday in the US, jumping on to their boat and shouting at them.

Sarkozy and companions were headed for open water yesterday in a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire when he spotted Associated Press photographer Jim Cole and freelancer Vince DeWitt aboard Cole’s boat.

Before Sarkozy spotted him, Cole had driven his boat up to the New Hampshire Marine Patrol boat, identified himself and received permission to be there.

“He was happy and smiling and he waved at the security people as he was coming out,” Cole said of the president. “And then he noticed us taking pictures and his happy demeanour diminished immediately.”

The men said they watched through their lenses as Sarkozy pointed towards them and his boat began moving in their direction.

Coming alongside Cole’s boat, Sarkozy, clad only in swimming trunks, jumped aboard and began shouting at them.

“The president was very agitated, speaking French at a loud volume very rapidly,” DeWitt said.

Both men said they repeatedly stated they did not speak French. Cole said he asked whether any of the other passengers on Sarkozy’s boat spoke English, but that no one answered or intervened.

Sarkozy picked up DeWitt’s camera but then put it down.

A woman then spoke up in English and relayed Sarkozy’s request to be left alone, DeWitt said. The woman did not identify herself.

Hours earlier, Sarkozy had spoken to reporters and said in French, “I am naturally ready to answer all your questions, and maybe afterward you will resume covering the news and other topics, and leave me tranquilly with my family.”

An AP reporter taped Sarkozy’s remarks and had them translated, but the photographers did not hear the translation until after the altercation.

After Cole and DeWitt promised to stop shooting photos for the day, Sarkozy calmed down, reboarded his boat and continued out on to the lake with his party, followed by a boat carrying US Secret Service agents.

The French government in Paris had no immediate comment.

Sarkozy and his family have been on holiday at a lakefront estate owned by former Microsoft executive Michael Appe.

The president was previously photographed relaxing dockside in his trunks.