In a move which was partly an audacious bluff and partly a complex legalistic gambit, the French president faced down determined opposition from Lithuania and Poland to open the door to normalizing the EU-Russia relationship three months after the Georgian conflict.

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, during his first trip to Damascus, encouraged Syria to pursue face-to-face peace talks with Israel.

The turbo-charged president of France Nicolas Sarkozy takes up the reigns of the European Union today, in what is promising to be an action-packed six months. Nicolas Sarkozy, a political live-wire, is keen to set the EU alight with his ambitious ideas during his tenure of the revolving Presidency, with policy initiatives ranging from defence to immigration.

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France says as long as the Middle East conflict is unresolved, it will continue to fuel world terror.

A police officer's apparent suicide has caused a security scare at a farewell for the French President in Israel.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has once again called on Colombia's main rebel group to free former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who has been held since 2002.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Great Britain for a two-day state visit. Mr Sarkozy and his wife the first lady of France Carla Bruni Sarkozy were welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Gordon Brown. During his visit the French president will make speeches to both houses of parliament.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has urged Colombia's main rebel group to free French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt, saying he will personally go to Colombia to receive her.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is under fire, following a bad-tempered outbreak at an agricultural fair in Paris on Saturday. Mr Sarkozy insulted a man who refused to shake his hand.

More than two years after violent suburban riots tore through France, the country's president Nicolas Sarkozy will unveil an ambitious plan Friday to turn around some of the poorest and grittiest towns that are home to many African and Arab immigrants.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy got married Saturday to former super model Carla Bruni, becoming the first sitting French president in history to tie the knot while in office. Lisa Bryant reports on the marriage from Paris.

Gordon Brown welcomed fellow European leaders to Downing Street this evening to discuss global economic reform.