Sarkozy was worried Pope's visit 'would clash with wife's singing on TV'

London, Mar 5 (ANI): Nicolas Sarkozy was worried by the timing of a visit from the Pope because it clashed with Carla Bruni singing live on television, sources have revealed.

The bizarre incident is one of a series leaked by one of the French First Lady's closest friends, which portray the 57-year-old President as being "hen pecked".

Christophe Barbier, a Paris journalist, in turn makes it clear that Carla, 44, is a self-obsessed diva with a ferocious temper.

In September 2008, the Pope was due to visit the Elysee Palace around the time that Carla was singing a duet on 'Taratata', a TV music show.

"What time is the Pope arriving?" the Daily Mail quoted Sarkozy as asking his aides.

"My wife has to do her balance checks for Taratata. I want to see it," he said.

Barbier's anecdotes, which are all in a new book, contain direct quotes from Bruni, making it clear that she has cooperated.

He recounts a controversial holiday to Mexico in March 2009 when the presidential couple stayed in a 2,100 pounds-a-night beach-front villa in Mexico.

Irritated by negative publicity, the furious 44-year-old singer accused Barbier of writing stories which were "masturbatory" and "ignoble". (ANI)