Sarkozy laughs off questions about affairs

French president Nicolas Sarkozy today tried to laugh off rumours about his marriage to former model Carla Bruni.

Mr Sarkozy was asked at a joint Downing Street news conference with Gordon Brown about claims circulating on the internet that they were both having affairs.

He said: “I love Britain – don’t make me bite back those words.”

Mr Brown added: “As far as the British press, I have been able to tell Nicolas that I don’t believe everything that I read in the British press.”

Mr Sarkozy rebuked the French journalist who asked about reports in the British press referring to the internet claims, for his "idiotic" question.

“You must know very little about what the President of the Republic actually has to do all day long,” he said.

“I certainly don’t have time to deal with these ridiculous rumours, not even half a fraction of a second. I don’t even know why you use your speaking time to put such an idiotic question.”

The mainstream French media has largely ignored the reports, although one newspaper has claimed they were the result of a hoax by a journalism student who wanted to see how far the rumour would spread.

However newspapers and broadcasters in some other countries – including the UK - have felt less constrained in referring to the claims, which remain unverified.

At the news conference, Mr Brown made a point of expressing his personal support for the President and his wife.

He told him: “I am very grateful to you and Carla for the personal friendship you have shown to me and Sarah.”