Sarkozy pours scorn on Obama's 'inexperience'

FRENCH president Nicolas Sarkozy has labelled his US counterpart Barack Obama "inexperienced and indecisive".

The unflattering assessment of Mr Obama's political abilities came during a sweeping broadside against a host of world leaders. Mr Sarkozy has also reportedly labelled the Spanish leader as dim, the German Chancellor as clinging on to France's coat tails and the head of the European Commission as irrelevant.

In the latest candid communiqués from the Elysée Palace, Mr Sarkozy was quoted as telling an all-party group of MPs that Mr Obama "was elected two months ago and had never run a ministry. There are a certain number of things on which he has no position. And he is not always up to standard on decision making and efficiency".

The French president is reportedly irritated by suggestions that Mr Obama convinced China to reach a compromise with Mr Sarkozy over tax havens, and allegedly also claimed that the US leader had "underperformed" on the issue of climate change. He is also said to be annoyed at the almost universal praise for Mr Obama in the world's media.

Claude Askolovitch, a commentator close to the Elysée Palace, wrote: "The president is annoyed at what he sees as the naivety and herd mentality."