Sarkozy's holiday villa paid for by wealthy friends

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was the guest of two wealthy families at a luxury villa near Boston, he told a newspaper yesterday, making it the second break since he was elected that was paid for by rich friends.

Sarkozy caused a stir in May when he cast aside traditional French aversion to flashy displays by their leaders to take a post-election break on a 70-metre yacht owned by a media billionaire.

Critics said rubbing shoulders with the rich was ironic given his promises to help poor workers.

Sarkozy's stay with the two families in the lavish villa, which boasts a private beach, a boat jetty and a spa, has also raised eyebrows.

Le Monde reported that it had cost €44,000 ($60,000) to rent the house for the two-week stay and that a banker and the head of the jeweller Tiffany-France footed the bill.

Sarkozy called the daily on Friday to say the villa "was rented by our friends, the Crombacks and the Agostinellis who invited us to stay with our children".

Agnes Cromback is the president of Tiffany-France. Roberto Agostinelli is a banker who worked for a time at Lazard. His wife, Mathilde, is the head of communications of Prada-France and a close friend of Sarkozy's wife Cecilia, the paper said.

The house belongs to Mike Appe, a former Microsoft executive.

Sarkozy's decision to head to the United States for a summer break was seen by some as symbolic of his desire to improve US-French relations that were severely strained by the invasion of Iraq.