French candidate targeted in flour attack

PARIS, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- French presidential candidate Francois Hollande was doused with flour Wednesday by a woman who was then tackled by security guards, video of the attack showed.

The Socialist Party politician, who seeks to replace Nicolas Sarkozy as France's leader, appeared stunned by the assault but dusted himself off and resumed his speech to an audience in Paris, The Guardian reported.

International Business Times reported the protester was removed from the building by the security guards.

Hollande was about to sign a "social contract" on fair housing when the flour came flying at him, the newspaper said.

CNN reported the woman said her action was a protest against his Socialist Party. As of Wednesday evening, Paris police could not confirm whether she had been arrested, the U.S. news network said.

The woman identified herself to BFM Television as 45-year-old blogger Claire Seguin, CNN said. She said she was "being killed by the Socialists in Lille" and was "at the end of my tether because the law is no longer applied."

CNN said Hollande later posed on Twitter: "There are other ways to show that you are unhappy. I remain always open to dialogue."

Polls show Hollande is leading Sarkozy heading toward the country's first round of voting on April 22.