APOLOGY OVER 'DRUNK' SARKOZY CLIP !
A Belgian newscaster has apologised for suggesting French President Nicolas Sarkozy was drunk during a news conference at last week's G8 summit.
A clip of the incident, posted on the YouTube video website, has been watched hundreds of thousands of times.
It shows Mr Sarkozy, who insists he is a teetotaller, appearing short of breath and euphoric before reporters.
Belgian broadcaster RTBF said presenter Eric Boever asked the French embassy to convey his apologies to the president.
Boever presented footage from the opening moments of Mr Sarkozy's news conference following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the comment that "apparently he had more than just water to drink".
In the clip, Mr Sarkozy offers apologies to journalists for being late and then pauses, as if on the verge of laughter, before inviting questions.
'Bad taste'
Boever said the remark was made in jest, and that he apologised "for the proportions that this is taking".
If it happened to Blair, it would be the only source of discussion - BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell.
Read Mark's thoughts in full
A clip of the incident, posted on the YouTube video website, has been watched hundreds of thousands of times.
It shows Mr Sarkozy, who insists he is a teetotaller, appearing short of breath and euphoric before reporters.
Belgian broadcaster RTBF said presenter Eric Boever asked the French embassy to convey his apologies to the president.
Boever presented footage from the opening moments of Mr Sarkozy's news conference following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the comment that "apparently he had more than just water to drink".
In the clip, Mr Sarkozy offers apologies to journalists for being late and then pauses, as if on the verge of laughter, before inviting questions.
'Bad taste'
Boever said the remark was made in jest, and that he apologised "for the proportions that this is taking".
If it happened to Blair, it would be the only source of discussion - BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell.
Read Mark's thoughts in full
"I obviously did not want to offend French national sensitivities, especially since I am also French through my mother," he added.
A spokesman for the president declined to comment, saying "it is not common practice... to comment on bad taste jokes".
Mr Sarkozy, who was making his international debut at the summit, says he does not drink alcohol and is a long-distance runner.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
Labels: G8 Sarkozy Clip Drunk Apology Summit Putin Blair You-Tube RTBF Jokes Debut
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