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/6622929.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
French poll rivals in final push French rivals vie for final votes
(about 2 hours later)
France's presidential candidates are staging their final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday's vote. The two candidates vying to become the next president of France have traded barbs on a final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday's run-off election.
The latest opinion polls suggest that conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy has a firm lead over Socialist Segolene Royal after Wednesday's TV debate. Socialist Segolene Royal told a radio interviewer that electing rival Nicolas Sarkozy could spark riots and violence.
But Mr Sarkozy laughed off her attack, describing himself as "serene" ahead of the vote, and blaming Ms Royal's comments on her position in the polls.
Latest polls suggest Mr Sarkozy holds a firm lead after Wednesday's TV debate.
A new Ifop poll for the Le Monde newspaper put Mr Sarkozy at 53%, with Ms Royal trailing with 47%.A new Ifop poll for the Le Monde newspaper put Mr Sarkozy at 53%, with Ms Royal trailing with 47%.
Ms Royal is campaigning Brittany, in the west, while Mr Sarkozy will be at a war memorial in the Alpine region. Ms Royal visited the western region of Brittany on Friday, while Mr Sarkozy laid a wreath at a war memorial in the Alpine region.
The campaigns end on Friday as voting in some overseas French regions takes place on Saturday.The campaigns end on Friday as voting in some overseas French regions takes place on Saturday.
See the candidates' poll ratings
The latest Ifop poll was conducted on 3 May among 858 people who had watched the often fiery televised debate.The latest Ifop poll was conducted on 3 May among 858 people who had watched the often fiery televised debate.
It found that the two candidates' scores were unchanged from the polling company's previous survey before the debate.It found that the two candidates' scores were unchanged from the polling company's previous survey before the debate.
Another poll by TNS Sofres for the Le Figaro daily showed Mr Sarkozy nine percentage points ahead of Ms Royal, with 54.5% and 45.5% respectively, up 2.5 points on a previous poll by the same pollster. There is... still hope for those you think that it is all still to play for Segolene Royal Another poll by TNS Sofres for the Le Figaro daily showed Mr Sarkozy nine percentage points ahead of Ms Royal, with 54.5% and 45.5% respectively, up 2.5 points on a previous poll by the same pollster.
name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map">See the candidates' poll ratings The BBC's Caroline Wyatt, in Montpellier, says most French voters have now made up their minds, with only 10% still undecided.
The BBC's Caroline Wyatt, in Montpellier, says most French voters have now made up their minds with only 10% still undecided. Centrist Francois Bayrou, defeated in the first round of voting, has said he will not vote for Mr Sarkozy.
She says that although Mr Sarkozy may be a deeply divisive figure, few doubt his competence or ability to get things done. But analysts say Ms Royal's pursuit of Mr Bayrou's "floating" voters has not been a success.
Segolene Royal has fought hard over the past few days to make up lost ground, our correspondent says, but faced with a choice between left and right, most are planning to choose the path of reform laid out by Mr Sarkozy. Our correspondent says that although Mr Sarkozy may be a deeply divisive figure, few doubt his competence or ability to get things done and most are now planning to choose the path of reform he has laid out.
'Betrayal' 'Time for decisions'
The final day of campaigning is expected to be low-key. Speaking in Brittany, Ms Royal played down the significance of the opinion polls, saying they could not be trusted.
Ms Royal will be hoping to win over any floating voters with two open-air rallies in Brittany. "There is therefore still hope for those you think that it is all still to play for," she said.
Did the televised debate sway many French voters?In picturesDid the televised debate sway many French voters?In pictures
Mr Sarkozy travels to the Alps to attend a ceremony paying respect the resistance fighters of World War II. In a radio interview earlier on Friday, she warned against electing Mr Sarkozy, describing him as a "dangerous choice".
"It is my responsibility today to alert people to the risk of [his] candidature with regards to the violence and brutality that would be unleashed in the country," she said.
In another interview Mr Sarkozy gently mocked his rival, who he described as "not in a good mood this morning".
"It must be the opinion polls," he added.
Later, Mr Sarkozy visited an Alpine memorial to fighters of the French resistance movement in World War II.
"There is a time and place for explanations and one for decisions, and this is the time and place for decisions," he said afterwards.
Ill-tempered debate
Both candidates held their final big rallies on Thursday, Ms Royal in Lille in the north and Mr Sarkozy at the other end of the country in Montpellier.Both candidates held their final big rallies on Thursday, Ms Royal in Lille in the north and Mr Sarkozy at the other end of the country in Montpellier.
Mr Sarkozy returned to his theme of the "betrayal" of France by socialists inspired by the 1968 student protests. HAVE YOUR SAY None of the candidates are particularly appealing Guillaume, Brussels class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6101&edition=2&ttl=20070416113005">Send us your comments Mr Sarkozy, 52, promised to unify the nation, re-invigorate the economy and restore full employment. He also defended several of his most controversial comments.
"We have two days left to say goodbye to the heritage of '68," Mr Sarkozy said.
He promised to unify the nation, re-invigorate the economy and restore full employment.
Mr Sarkozy, 52, also addressed his most controversial previous statements, saying he did not regret using the word "rabble" to describe delinquents from Paris' poorest suburbs, nor did he regret speaking about cleaning housing estates "with a pressure hose".
Ms Royal, 53, called for a French rebirth, saying she offered a safe choice for those wanting "a protecting France, a fraternal France, a competitive France".Ms Royal, 53, called for a French rebirth, saying she offered a safe choice for those wanting "a protecting France, a fraternal France, a competitive France".
She urged voters to make the "audacious choice" to elect her France's first woman president. Their sometimes ill-tempered TV debate on Wednesday, watched by an estimated 23m people, left both claiming victory.
"We do not want to appeal to people's dark side, but to the light and hope inside them," she said. The rivals clashed over employment, the economy and law and order, but opinion polls showed the debate had not reversed Mr Sarkozy's momentum.
Bayrou's vow
The sometimes ill-tempered TV debate on Wednesday, watched by an estimated 23m people, left both claiming victory.
The rivals clashed over employment, the economy and law and order.
HAVE YOUR SAY None of the candidates are particularly appealing Guillaume, Brussels Send us your comments
Opinion polls showed the debate had not reversed Mr Sarkozy's momentum.
Mr Sarkozy said Ms Royal had tried "to be pugnacious but at times she was too aggressive".
Ms Royal said: "You can never go too much on the offensive when it comes to defending convictions and values."
Ms Royal did get a boost from centrist Francois Bayrou, who was defeated in the first round of the election.
Mr Bayrou, who has been strongly critical of Mr Sarkozy, said in an interview with Le Monde newspaper: "I will not vote for Sarkozy."
Mr Sarkozy won 31.2% of the votes and Ms Royal won 25.9% in the first round of the election on 22 April. Mr Sarkozy won 31.2% of the votes and Ms Royal won 25.9% in the first round of the election on 22 April.
Click to returnClick to return