France's Sarkozy defends luxury yacht cruise

By Kerstin Gehmlich

PARIS (Reuters) - France's president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy rejected opposition criticism of his post-election holiday on a luxury yacht on Wednesday.

The opposition Socialists and newspaper cartoonists took aim at Sarkozy's holiday aboard a 70-metre yacht owned by media billionaire Vincent Bollore. Le Monde showed Sarkozy's wife reclining on a deck chair, commanding: "Silence, poor people!"

Sarkozy, who returned to France on Wednesday night and who assumes office next week, was unapologetic and said the break following his victory in Sunday's election came after a long campaign and cost taxpayers nothing.

"I have no intention of hiding. I have no intention of lying. I have no intention of apologizing," he told reporters on the Mediterranean island of Malta after a jog in the countryside. "I don't see the controversy."

Sarkozy's allies were quick to dismiss the headlines and outgoing President Jacques Chirac said he had "every confidence" in the new head of state, with whom he has had difficult relations in the past.

But left-wing protestors bitter at Sarkozy's election victory clashed with police for a fourth night and students at a Paris university occupied a lecture theatre to protest against his plans for France's universities.

Although limited, the protests awakened memories of the violent demonstrations that greeted the government's plans to introduce a new youth jobs contract last year and police were out in force to quell trouble in the Latin Quarter of Paris.

POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

France's interior minister accused far-left activists of fanning political violence. Police reported 200 cars were torched on Tuesday night and 80 people arrested, although they said the incidents seemed to be diminishing in severity.

"For the last three days, since the night of the election, we have had an unacceptable situation," Interior Minister Francois Baroin told France Info radio. "It is clearly politically motivated and linked to the extreme left."

Sarkozy, an abrasive former interior minister with a tough line on law and order, is a hate figure for many on the left but Socialist politicians appealed for calm.

They said violence would only help the right ahead of parliamentary elections next month.

"We've had an election. It's legitimate. It's democratic," said Socialist lawmaker Henri Emmanuelli. "For me, Mr Sarkozy is the president and we are not conducting a third round (of the election) through street violence," he told LCI television.

Sarkozy is due to hold his first official engagement on Thursday when he joins Chirac at a ceremony to commemorate the abolition of slavery.

The president-elect is also due to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday.

Chirac, who held his final cabinet meeting on Wednesday after 12 years in power, will hand over power to Sarkozy on May 16. The incoming president will then name his government and start campaigning for the June parliamentary elections.