Sarkozy seen winning French election

Sarkozy seen winning French election
Belgian media report pro-American candidate as victor

Conservative favorite Nicolas Sarkozy is on course to win France's presidential election run-off on Sunday with between 53 and 54 percent of the vote, Belgian media reported.

The RTBF public broadcasting station and the newspapers Le Soir and La Libre Belgique reported on their Web sites that unofficial estimates showed Sarkozy beating Socialist Segolene Royal comfortably.

French law bans the publication of any exit polls or projections in France until after the last polling stations close in big cities at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).

La Libre Belgique daily and RTBF quoted several sources as saying Sarkozy was leading with 53 percent more than two hours before the balloting ends in the main urban centers.

Le Soir, quoting sources close to the French Interior Ministry's political intelligence service (Renseignements Generaux) said Sarkozy had about 54 percent of the vote.

Turnout was 75.1 percent at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT), the Interior Ministry said, even higher than in the first round two weeks ago, when Sarkozy and Royal beat 10 other candidates.