Sarkozy meets Blair in first diplomatic step

French president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy took a first step on the world diplomatic scene on Friday, holding talks with outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair that focused on their common ground.

The leaders greeted each other with smiles and warm handshakes before the talks, which focused on EU and G8 summits next month. Blair, who met outgoing president Jacques Chirac earlier, shares common ground with Sarkozy on many issues, including moves to introduce a slimmed-down version of the EU

constitutional treaty rejected by French voters in 2005. (Reuters)