Carla Bruni says Sarkozy is faithful

Former supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has said her husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, would never cheat on her and has described their love story as a "real fairy tale".

Ms Bruni, who married Mr Sarkozy two years ago after a whirlwind romance, made the comments on Britain's Sky News television in an interview released yesterday and recorded last Friday.

Rumours have swept the internet and the British press over the past three days that both Ms Bruni and her husband were having extra-marital affairs.

The Elysee has not commented on the speculation.

Although the Sky interview was made before the rumours surfaced, the reporter did ask Ms Bruni if she trusted Mr Sarkozy, given speculation that he had had affairs before they met.

"Oh yes, very much. He would never have affairs," she said.

Pressed on whether she thought their marriage would last forever, Ms Bruni paused before saying: "I guess marriage should be forever, but, um who knows what happens. I wish it was forever, that's my hope, but we could be dead tomorrow."

A feline star of the catwalk turned celebrated chanteuse, Ms Bruni brought considerable glamour to the Elysee in February 2008 when she married the hyperactive Mr Sarkozy, who had divorced his second wife just four months earlier.