Sarkozy rushed to hospital after jogging collapse

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy collapsed while jogging near his weekend retreat yesterday and was rushed to hospital where officials said he was "doing well" but would remain overnight.

The 54-year-old conservative president's wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy raced to his side on the back of a police motorbike after he felt faint while running in the wooded park around the Versailles Palace, a witness said.

"The President was taken by helicopter to the Val de Grace military hospital where he has been undergoing tests since 1.45 pm (1145 GMT)," the French presidency said in a statement.

"The clinical examination and additional neurological tests are normal. Cardiological monitoring, as is normal in these circumstances, will continue until tomorrow morning," it added, promising an update today.

The president's chief of staff, Claude Gueant, said that Mr Sarkozy was "doing well and talking normally to medical staff".

A presidential aide said that Mr Sarkozy had a problem related to his vagus nerve - which helps the body regulate its heart rate - but that doctors considered the problem "minor".

A condition known as vasovagal syncope can reduce the heart rate and blood pressure - particularly if the victim is dehydrated. Patients can faint but normally make a complete recovery, medical experts said.

Mr Sarkozy's office said there were no plans to cancel Mr Sarkozy 's visit tomorrow to the Mont Saint Michel abbey in Normandy. "He's fine. He's hungry. He's complaining. Everything's going well," lawmaker and Sarkozy ally Patrick Balkany told RTL radio after talking to Mr Gueant and Ms Bruni, confirming that the problem was a vasovagal episode.

"Carla reassured us straight away... it's a passing thing. The President is going to have to take more care, work a little less hard and eat a little bit more," he added, blaming a diet he said Mr Sarkozy was on to lose weight.

"Recently the President has looked very honed, he looks more like a Tour de France rider than a President," he joked.