'Sarko the American' to Address Congress

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, makes his first official visit to Washington today to try to heal the wounds over France's opposition to the Iraq war and show he is an ally in George Bush's hard line stance over Iran's nuclear program.

One of the most pro-US French leaders in decades, Mr Sarkozy is known as Sarko the American, loves Elvis Presley, wears a New York City police department T-shirt while jogging and has already had a hamburger picnic at George Bush's Maine ranch, proclaiming a new era in Franco-American friendship.

He will hold talks at the White House, visit Mount Vernon, the home of the first US president, George Washington, and make a speech to Congress - a rare honor for a foreign leader. Mr Sarkozy has toughened France's language on Iran's nuclear ambitions, pushing for tighter sanctions. He has also raised the possibility of France one day rejoining Nato's military command, reversing one of General de Gaulle's greatest gestures of French independence in the face of the US superpower.

But Mr Sarkozy's Congress speech is also expected to stress the importance of a stronger Europe and challenge US environmental policies, urging Americans to do more to cut carbon emissions.

Mr Sarkozy, who has been called America's poodle by opposition Socialists, joked two weeks ago: "The trial has started, I will be a friend of the Americans. Oh yes, it's true. Don't torture me, I confess."

But although the French public happily consumes American culture - line-dancing and country and western music are increasingly popular - American capitalism and foreign policy remain controversial. Mr Sarkozy maintains his opposition to the Iraq war, despite recently sending his foreign minister to Iraq to consider France's future role in rebuilding the country.

Mr Sarkozy will also have to persuade the American public that he is not highly strung after he recently stormed out of an interview on the renowned current affairs show 60 Minutes. Two weeks before the Sarkozys' divorce announcement, the presenter, Lesley Stahl, asked about Mrs Sarkozy, at which the president ripped off his microphone and walked out, audibly calling his press spokesman an imbecile for organizing the interview.

While in Washington, Mr Sarkozy also faces trouble at home as transport and utility unions decide whether to join further strikes over pension reform in coming weeks.

The president was yesterday criticized by the Socialists for styling himself as a "Zorro" figure after he flew to Chad to bring home journalists and flight attendants held after an alleged attempt by a French charity to illegally fly African children to Europe.