Paris, Jan. 31: President Nicolas Sarkozy has been accused of ruling France like a ''monarch from another age''.

According to The Telegraph, the criticism followed his alleged role in the removal of the top state representative and a police chief from a region after protesters slightly disrupted his visit.

Paris  - French energy supplier EDF is to build France's second next-generation EPR nuclear reactor at Penly, on the English Channel, the online edition of the daily Le Figaro reported on Friday.

The announcement was made late Thursday by President Nicolas Sarkozy, who also said that another French utility, GDF Suez, would have a minority stake in the project and would likely be chosen to build a third EPR reactor, at a site not yet determined.

Paris  - A French aid worker was raped an robbed by several armed men in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Le Parisian newspaper said in its internet edition on Friday.

The men, who wore uniforms, robbed a group of aid workers, among them three women. The two other women were also victims of sexual aggression, the paper said.

It remained unclear whether the culprits were members of a rebel militia or soldiers of the Congolese army. The non-governmental organization the victim worked for was not named.

The aid workers were urgently repatriated to France where the women, who are all in their early 20s, receive psychological treatment, and are expected to file charges.

Paris - At least one person has die

The leading luxury mobile phones manufacturer Vertu launched new mobile phone, the Vertu Signature, available at Vertu boutiques and many leading watch, jewellery and department stores worldwide.

At the product launch ceremony, President of Vertu, Alberto Torres said, 'We are delighted to present our new Signature collection, here in Paris. Especially, since we launched our first ever phone in this beautiful city, back in 2002. '

New York  - France urged the UN Security Council on Thursday to enforce international humanitarian law, which it said was being violated by parties in the Gaza Strip conflict.

France, which holds the 15-nation council's presidency for January, said in a concept paper that the UN cannot continue to ignore humanitarian violations.

"We cannot let this trend go on," said the paper, which council members debated behind closed doors with the participation of major UN relief organizations.