Close to a quarter million French nationals gathered in a square across from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to demonstrate support for President Nicholas Sarkozy, who is seeking a second term in office. Sarkozy gave an impassioned speech to the crowd, imploring the voters not to replace him with Socialist candidate Francois Hollande - which according to poll predictions is very likely to happen.

A group of Tmimim set up a Tefilin stand at the rally, and thousands of Jews took the opportunity to do the Mitzvah with them.