Snub for Sarkozy in French polls

Paris: The party of French President Nicolas Sarkozy is losing in the first round of the country's local elections, according to the latest poll results.

Widely seen as a snub to Sarkozy, the UMP party and it's allies have 45.5 percent of the vote in Paris and other key French cities, with opposition Socialists and their allies on 47 percent.

Final results are expected later on Monday.

Campaigns have focused on local issues, but observers say the election results will have a significant bearing on a raft of reforms that Sarkozy has pledged to carry out.

Sarkozy's popularity ratings have plummeted recently; his conspicuous courting of model and now wife Carla Bruni, and his recent shouting match with a farmer have frustrated citizens calling for economic reform.