酷兔英语

The Elysee Palace on Sunday fuelled rife speculation in France that Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the first lady, has fallen pregnant with a long-expected first child by the French leader.

Newspapers across the political spectrum on Sunday reported that the 43-year-old former model was expecting a first child with President Nicolas Sarkozy, 56, whom she married following a whirlwindromance in 2008.

Neither the Elysee Palace nor seniorministers denied the claims. A spokesman said the matter was part of the couple's private life and there would be no official statement.

The latest edition of French Closer magazine reported under the headline "Pregnant at last", that sources were "absolutely certain" about the information.

Closer claimed Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy is in the early weeks of pregnancy', meaning the child would be born just as the next presidentialcampaignhits its stride.

Mr Sarkozy hopes to be returned to the Elysee Palace for a second term next spring.

The magazine said ministers were informed of the pregnancy but warned not to leak the news because the condition is in early stages and 'fragile'.

Closer has run similar rumours before but newspapers, including Le Journal du Dimanche, Le Parisien, and Le Figaro, have also given the story credibility.

The right-wing Le Figaro is particularly close to Mr Sarkozy.

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy has often spoken of her desire to have children with Mr Sarkozy, explaining: "I hope to, if I am young enough. It would be a dream."

Over the Christmas period Ms Bruni-Sarkozy visited a shrine in India and told a Muslim cleric that she was praying for another son.

In an online report, Le Figaro points to the fact that it is the third time in three years that the press has suggested that Ms Bruni-Sarkozy might be pregnant. It also suggests that the First Lady's mother, Marisa, rejected the Closer story as untrue.

An unnamed seniorminister told Le Journal du Dimanche there was no comment to make on the subject.

(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

(Agencies)

法国爱丽舍宫上周日传出喜讯,第一夫人卡拉•布吕尼-萨科奇可能已经怀孕,这将是法国总统夫妇期盼已久的第一个孩子。

上周日,法国全国不同政治派别的报纸都报道称,现年43岁的前模特布吕尼和56岁的法国总统尼古拉•萨科奇将迎来他们的第一个孩子。布吕尼和萨科奇在2008年闪婚。

爱丽舍宫和法国多名高级部长都没有否认此事。一位发言人称,这属于总统夫妇的私事,不会发表官方声明。

法国最新一期《Closer》杂志以《总算有了!》作为大字标题报道了这桩喜事,并称消息来源"绝对可靠"。

《Closer》杂志称,布吕尼孕期刚刚数周,因此孩子将在下届总统选举前出生。

萨科奇希望明年春天在大选中成功连任。

杂志称,法国多名部长已被告知此事,但被要求暂时封口,因为布吕尼怀孕不久,还"不太稳定"。

《Closer》杂志之前曾报道类似传言,但《星期日报》、《巴黎人报》、《费加罗报》都对此事进行了报道。

右翼的《费加罗报》和萨科奇关系密切。

布吕尼曾多次表态希望给萨科奇添丁,她解释说:"如果我还够年轻,我希望能和他有个孩子。这是我的梦想。"

去年圣诞节期间,布吕尼还曾远赴印度一个宗教圣地,向一位穆斯林神职人员祈愿能生个儿子。

在一篇网络报道中,《费加罗报》指出,这已经是三年来怀孕传言第三次在媒体出现了。报道还指出布吕尼的母亲玛丽莎否认了《Closer》杂志的报道。

一位不具名的高级部长告诉《星期日报》,对此事他不予置评。