Anti-Sarkozy alliance ruled out

Mr Bayrou wants to forge a new centrist consensus in France

The centrist candidate in the French presidential election, Francois Bayrou, has ruled out an electoral alliance with Socialist leader Segolene Royal.

Speaking on France Inter radio, Mr Bayrou said such a deal was not possible at this stage.

The former Socialist prime minister, Michel Rocard, suggested the deal as a way to defeat centre-right frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy in the second round.

Ms Royal - second in opinion polls - also rejected Mr Rocard's suggestion.

Mr Bayrou, leader of the Union for French Democracy (UDF) ranks third in opinion polls.

"It's impossible to imagine any alliance agreement in a presidential election before the vote," he said.

Sarkozy praises De Gaulle

At least one-third of French voters are reported to be still undecided ahead of Sunday's first round vote.

Ms Royal is still widely expected to contest the second round on 6 May with Mr Sarkozy, but Mr Bayrou has emerged as a strong contender.

Mr Rocard suggested that Mr Bayrou and Ms Royal should declare their intention to support whichever of them won through to the runoff, to boost their chances of beating Mr Sarkozy.

Mr Bayrou has called for a new centrist coalition to break the traditional left-right divide in French politics.

"The country's main political trends have realised that this new majority is just a stone's throw away," he told France Inter.

"Everything's changing, everything's shifting and people can see that the old Berlin Wall that separated the left and right in France...the old wall is cracking," he said.

Mr Sarkozy on Monday paid tribute to the founder of post-war France, General Charles de Gaulle. Mr Sarkozy leads the Gaullist UMP party.

On a surprise visit to De Gaulle's tomb, Mr Sarkozy said the general remained "a symbol of hope" for France.

The tomb, in the eastern village of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, "bears witness to a time when France did not doubt itself," he said.