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| Poll campaigning begins in France | Poll campaigning begins in France |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Official campaigning is beginning in France's presidential election ahead of first round polling on 22 April. | |
| Twelve candidates are contesting the race to succeed veteran leader Jacques Chirac, 74, who is stepping down. | |
| The two front runners are Nicolas Sarkozy of the centre-right UMP party and Socialist rival Segolene Royal. | The two front runners are Nicolas Sarkozy of the centre-right UMP party and Socialist rival Segolene Royal. |
| Centrist candidate Francois Bayrou is also in the running and far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen has made gains in recent days. | Centrist candidate Francois Bayrou is also in the running and far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen has made gains in recent days. |
| The opening of official campaigning kicks off a series of public rallies and speeches for the candidates. | The opening of official campaigning kicks off a series of public rallies and speeches for the candidates. |
| Recent polls have shown Mr Sarkozy is building a lead over Ms Royal, who remains ahead of third-placed Mr Bayrou. | Recent polls have shown Mr Sarkozy is building a lead over Ms Royal, who remains ahead of third-placed Mr Bayrou. |
| But a survey in Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday indicated that there were large numbers of undecided voters. | But a survey in Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday indicated that there were large numbers of undecided voters. |
| If no candidate wins 50% or more of the vote, the election goes to a second round between the two leading candidates on 6 May. | If no candidate wins 50% or more of the vote, the election goes to a second round between the two leading candidates on 6 May. |
| Election officials say record numbers of people have put their names down on the electoral roll to ensure they are allowed to vote, the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby reports from France. | Election officials say record numbers of people have put their names down on the electoral roll to ensure they are allowed to vote, the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby reports from France. |
| Experts say the sudden political fervour has been prompted by anxiety, because many French people were frightened by the last elections when the far-right party came second, our correspondent says. | Experts say the sudden political fervour has been prompted by anxiety, because many French people were frightened by the last elections when the far-right party came second, our correspondent says. |