SARKOZY AND BRUNI VISIT JORDAN'S ANCIENT PETRA
Saturday, 5 January 2008
PETRA, Jordan, Jan 5, 2008 (AFP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his girlfriend Carla Bruni arrived on Saturday in the centuries-old rose-red city of Petra in southern Jordan on a private holiday.
Sarkozy carried Bruni's young son as he and Bruni, who wore a leather jacket and black pants, posed briefly for photographers before entering the Treasury, one of the main temples in Petra, an AFP correspondent said.
Jordanian security forces, including horse-mounted royal guards, were deployed across the ancient archaeological site, keeping tourists and photographers at bay.
Hundreds of foreign holidaymakers on foot or camelback watched with bemusement as police fanned out across the site.
Earlier Sarkozy and Bruni, a former supermodel who is now a singer, flew into Petra aboard a helicopter from the Red Sea resort of Aqaba and landed three kilometres (about two miles) from Petra, witnesses said.
The World Heritage Site some 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of the capital Amman comprises stunning temples and tombs hewn into rose-coloured rock.
The ancient Nabatean archaeological site was chosen in July as one of the "new" seven wonders of the world.
Sarkozy arrived on Friday in Aqaba, where he was met personally by Jordan's King Abdullah II who had invited him to spend the weekend at his seaside palace, according to the Elysee Palace.
The two leaders also met for talks during which they discussed the situation in Lebanon where feuding politicians have been unable to elect a new president since November, a Jordanian palace statement said.
In December, the French leader spent five days in Egypt with the Italian-born Bruni before paying an official visit to Cairo.
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