London - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has withdrawn his backing for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to become the first president of the European Union under the reform treaty, the BBC reported Wednesday.

The French president was understood to have changed his mind over his support for Blair after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the BBC quoted "senior sources" as saying.

Sarkozy was now understood to believe that Blair's involvement in the Iraq war had damaged his standing among EU fellow members - a view long held my other countries, including Germany.

According to the BBC, sources close to the president have indicated that Sarkozy felt Blair was not right for the role because Britain has failed to adopt the European single currency and the Schengen zone of passport-free travel. (dpa)