France´s Sarkozy And Bruni Sue Ryanair Over Ad

A Paris court is due to hear the case on Thursday.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his friend Carla Bruni are suing Irish airline Ryanair over an advertisement featuring her daydreaming about a wedding, their lawyer said on Wednesday.

Thierry Herzog told reporters that Sarkozy wanted a symbolic one euro ($1.48) in damages, while Bruni, a former supermodel-turned-popstar, was seeking 500,000 euros.

"A photo of Carla Bruni costs 500,000 euros," Herzog was quoted as telling Le Monde daily, explaining that her fame as a model meant she could command large sums for advertising.

A Paris court is due to hear the case on Thursday.

The advert, which ran in Le Parisien newspaper on Monday, features a photo of the smiling pair in an advertisement for cut-price tickets. "With Ryanair, all my family can come to my wedding," says a thought bubble coming from Bruni's head.

Ryanair did not get permission to use their image and the company has since apologised. "It was a humorous comment on a matter of great public interest in France. We apologise sincerely for any offence caused," said a Ryanair spokeswoman in Dublin.

Sarkozy recently made the front pages of newspapers and celebrity magazines when he announced his relationship with the Italian-born Bruni whom he met just a few weeks after separating from his second wife, Cecilia.

Sarkozy hinted at a news conference earlier this month that he would marry Bruni and added that the media would probably find out about it after the event.