A PRESIDENT IN PRISON...

Ex-French leader Sarkozy's farewell as he begins 5-year stint

- BY ANDY LINES Chief Reporter

FORMER French president Nicolas Sarkozy gave wife Carla Bruni a farewell hug yesterday before spending his first night in jail for criminal conspiracy.

The 70-year-old, who was head of state from 2007 to 2012, was convicted of conspiring to fund an election campaign with cash from Libyan tyrant Muammar Gaddafi.

He left his home holding the hand of former supermodel Bruni before heading for a cell in La Sante jail to begin his five-year term.

Notorious terrorist Carlos the Jackal and Manuel Noriega, the former dictator of Panama, were both held at the prison in southern Paris.

Sarkozy has launched an appeal, protesting his innocence on social media as he was driven to jail. He wrote: "With unwavering strength I tell [the French people] it is not a former president they are locking up this morning - it is an innocent man.