Sarkozy TV rebuke becomes web hit

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Nicolas Sarkozy gets angry with a TV technician

Footage of French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressing irritation at a TV technician ahead of an interview has become an instant internet success.

The video shows the employee clipping a microphone to Mr Sarkozy's tie, and not responding to a presidential "hello".

"It's a question of manners," Mr Sarkozy is heard muttering. "When you're invited, you're entitled to have people say 'hello' to you".

The video, posted on the Dailymotion website, has drawn about 500,000 hits.

It was recorded on Monday, as Mr Sarkozy was waiting to be interviewed on France 3 television and released to left-wing news blog, Rue89.

Inquiry

Mr Sarkozy is seen winking while complaining about the manners of the technician who appears not to have returned his greeting.

At the end of the brief outburst, he appears to suggest the employee should not be working for state TV.

Asked about the video, a spokesman for the presidency declined to comment.

FR3 has condemned the "pirating" of the off-air footage and launched an inquiry.

Mr Sarkozy has been caught several times in off-the-record videos posted on the web.

One of them showed him at a farm show in February, swearing at a member of the public who refused to shake his hand.