Sarkozy in Malta

Nicolas Sarkozy, the winner of Sunday's French presidential election, arrived in Malta yesterday on a private jet accompanied by members of his family and a number of security personnel.

It is believed Mr Sarkozy is with his wife Cecilia and his son, and is taking a rest for a few days before finalising his government line-up and policy priorities. Mr Sarkozy arrived unannounced at about 2.45 p.m. Neither the government nor the French Ambassador knew he was coming, government sources said. Wearing a jacket and jeans, he did not use VIP facilities at the airport but passed through the normal channels, where he was seen winking at people who stared at him in disbelief.

Mr Sarkozy, a woman and a security officer were seen boarding a Mercedes S class car. The rest of his party - three women, two men, a boy and four more security officers - boarded two Mercedes Veto vans and a car belonging to Nick's and Travel Experience chauffer services.

The three cars drove to Manoel Island where the party was seen boarding a yacht at about 3.30 p.m. The yacht is known to have gone cruising to the south of the island. It was seen off Delimara at about 8 p.m. The 60-metre boat yesterday left the Malta Shipyard's super yacht facility at about 8 a.m. following a clean-up before the yachting season. It then cruised to the marina at Manoel Island, from where Mr Sarkozy and his party boarded and it sailed out. Sources said he is scheduled to leave Malta tomorrow. The French press had reported that he was due to take his holiday in Corsica.

In an interview last week Mr Sarkozy said that if he won the election he would go into retreat "in order to immerse myself in the office, take the measure of the heavy responsibilities that will weigh on my shoulders, and rest after the clamour of the campaign".

Mr Sarkozy officially takes over as President from Jacques Chirac on May 16.