French presidency hopefuls named

To become a candidate at least 500 signed forms are needed

Twelve candidates have qualified to run in the French presidential election.

Candidates needed the endorsement of at least 500 elected officials to take part. The first round takes place on 22 April, with a run-off two weeks later.

The frontrunners are currently Nicolas Sarkozy of the ruling centre-right UMP, Socialist candidate Segolene Royal and centrist politician Francois Bayrou.

Anti-globalisation activist Jose Bove is also in the race, as is far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.

More than 20 politicians had been campaigning before Friday's deadline for registration.

The other successful candidates are:

Marie-George Buffet (head of Communist Party)

Arlette Laguiller (Trotskyist, who first ran in 1974)

Olivier Besancenot (head of Communist Revolutionary League, got 4.25% in 2002)

Dominique Voynet (Green party leader)

Philippe de Villiers (heads far-right Movement for France party)

Frederic Nihous (head of Hunting, Fishing, Nature and Traditions party)

Gerard Schivardi (a leftist, anti-EU mayor).

Both Mr Le Pen and Mr Besancenot called the system of collecting signatures "undemocratic", as they had struggled to get enough endorsements.

A second round of voting, two weeks after the first round, is almost certain to be needed, as no candidate is likely to win an outright majority in the first round.

Opinion polls show Mr Bayrou catching up with Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal.