Sarkozy to sue over voodoo doll

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has demanded the immediate withdrawal from French bookshops of a voodoo doll in his image. The effigy, which comes replete with a set of pins and a manual on how to put the evil eye on the President, has become a big seller in Paris. But Sarkozy, who is a touchy type, does not see the joke.

So much so that Thierry Herzog, the president's lawyer, has told the makers of the doll, K&B publishing, that if they fail to halt sales of the kit, Sarkozy will sue them. The company have also made a Segolene Royal doll [Sarkozy's Socialist rival for the presidency last year], and she is similarly miffed. Her lawyer told Le Monde that it was an "insult to her human diginity".

It seems harmless stuff. Nicolas Sarkozy, the Voodoo Manual sets out to be satire. The publicity blurb for the Sarkozy kit says: "Thanks to spells concocted by Yael Rolognese, a witchcraft specialist, you can put the bad eye on Sarkozy and stop him causing more damage."

Famous quotes from, and references to, the "hyper-president" are printed on parts of the doll's anatomy, with the invitation to plant one of the 12 free pins in them. They include "Work more to earn more", and "Get lost, loser", his words to a bystander who refused to shake his hand last year.

However, it looks like they both Sarkozy and Royal are in for a fight. Thus far, K&B have refused to obey the presidential order, claiming it is "totally disproportionate given the humorous aspect of the project and the fact that Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal are political, public figures". ·