This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6602269.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
French contender in new TV debate France's Royal in Bayrou debate
(about 8 hours later)
A TV debate between French presidential candidate Segolene Royal and defeated rival Francois Bayrou is to take place on Saturday amid a row over poll rules. French presidential hopeful Segolene Royal and defeated candidate Francois Bayrou have held a televised debate in which they vowed to seek common ground.
A cable news channel will air the debate after Canal Plus pulled out fearing it would not be allocating airtime fairly to the contenders. But both ruled out working more closely together before the final vote next month, stressing their differences.
Nicolas Sarkozy, who takes on Ms Royal in a 6 May run-off, refused to join in, saying he would only debate with her. The debate, on a cable TV channel, has dominated recent political campaigning.
Mr Bayrou has accused Mr Sarkozy of stifling free speech. Another cable channel pulled out of broadcasting it out of fear it would not be allocating airtime fairly to the other contender, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Mr Sarkozy, who takes on Ms Royal in a 6 May run-off, had refused to take part in the three-way debate, prompting Mr Bayrou to accuse him of stifling free speech.
'Slanderous insinuation''Slanderous insinuation'
The BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris says the twists and turns surrounding the planned debate have dominated the election campaign for two days. The BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris said the debate, which took place in front of hundreds of journalists in a Paris hotel, had dominated political debate in recent days.
It is now due to be broadcast live on the news channel BFM TV and on French radio at 1100 (1000 GMT) on Saturday. Mr Bayrou repeated his stance that he was not going to back either of the candidates.
It's rather insulting to journalists to think that they could obey orders Nicolas Sarkozy Ms Royal and Mr Bayrou had agreed to hold the debate following her call for talks about a possible centre-left alliance. But there was consensus on some of the issues between the pair.
Who takes Mr Bayrou's 6.8m votes from the first round may well decide who wins the run-off. He has not endorsed either of the remaining two candidates. On institutional and parliamentary reform they agreed power needed to be spread more evenly; on Europe, both said a new treaty should be put to a referendum, our correspondent says.
But Mr Bayrou did not agree with the Socialist candidate's spending plans outlined in her presidential manifesto.
Mr Sarkozy derided the debate, calling it part of Ms Royal's "little games".
Ms Royal and Mr Bayrou had agreed to hold the debate following her call for talks about a possible centre-left alliance.
Who takes Mr Bayrou's 6.8m votes from the first round may well decide who wins the run-off.
When Mr Sarkozy declined to take part, both Ms Royal's Socialists and Mr Bayrou accused him and his supporters of intimidating broadcasters and the industry watchdog to try to stop the debate.When Mr Sarkozy declined to take part, both Ms Royal's Socialists and Mr Bayrou accused him and his supporters of intimidating broadcasters and the industry watchdog to try to stop the debate.
Mr Sarkozy's team strongly denied the allegations, saying they were a "slanderous insinuation".Mr Sarkozy's team strongly denied the allegations, saying they were a "slanderous insinuation".
He said: "It's rather insulting to journalists to think that they could obey orders."
Mr Sarkozy, who won 31% of the first-round vote, and Ms Royal, who took nearly 26%, will hold their own TV debate on 2 May.Mr Sarkozy, who won 31% of the first-round vote, and Ms Royal, who took nearly 26%, will hold their own TV debate on 2 May.
Opinion polls show her closing the gap but still trailing Mr Sarkozy.Opinion polls show her closing the gap but still trailing Mr Sarkozy.
In her latest rally, in Lyon, Ms Royal scorned Mr Sarkozy for portraying himself as the victim of hate attacks.
"Never will you see me put myself in the role of victim," she said. "I am not a weak victim, I am not a weak woman... I am a solid woman, a fighter."