President Sarkozy's wife has baby girl

PARIS, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Nicolas Sarkozy became the first French president to become a new father in office when his wife, Carla Bruni, gave birth Wednesday to a girl.

Sarkozy was not at La Clinique de la Muette for the delivery, Le Figaro reported. He spent about 30 minutes with Bruni earlier in the day and then rushed to a meeting in Germany with Chancellor Angela Merkel and other officials, returning after the baby's arrival at about 8 p.m., Le Figaro said.

The president's office made no official announcement and the baby's name has not been released.

Sarkozy has two sons, both in their mid-20s, by his first marriage and another from his second. The new baby is his first daughter and his first child with Bruni, who married him in 2008 at the Elysee Palace.

Bruni, a model and singer, also has a child from a previous relationship.

In a television interview in September, Bruni said she planned to shield the new baby from publicity, People reported.

"I will do everything to protect this infant, and I'll be absolutely rigorous," Bruni told TFI. "I will never show photos of this child. I will never expose this child."