Mobbed And Booed: President Sarkozy Hides In A Bar

02.03.2012

French President Nicolas Sarkozy had to take refuge in a bar during a visit to the Basque region when he was mobbed and booed by protesters.

Basque separatists and opposition Socialist party supporters crowded around the leader, throwing eggs and hurling insults.

Riot police were on duty outside the Bar du Palais in Bayonne, where Mr Sarkozy was on the campaign trail ahead of the presidential elections later this year.

Some protesters jeered and booed and threw eggs at the bar as others shouted "Nicolas kampora!" which means "Nicolas get out".

The president was booed from the moment he left his car in the centre of the city and was followed by a jeering crowd all the way to the bar, where he met local voters.

He stayed inside the bar for an hour while police held off protesters, some of whom were holding the electoral programme of his rival, Socialist candidate Francois Hollande.

Mr Sarkozy condemned the incident and partly blamed the opposition.