Sorry Cécilia, um Carla, whoever

Le Monde newspaper has published a front-page apology asking for President Nicolas Sarkozy's forgiveness after mixing up the names of his third wife, Carla Bruni, with his second one, Cécilia.

In what the paper termed "an unfortunate slip" it accidentally referred to Cécilia Bruni-Sarkozy in an article in its Monday edition.

The newspaper wrote: “We were of course referring to the wife of the head of state, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

"To our readers, to Mr and Mrs Sarkozy, to Mrs Cécilia Attias, we present our most sincere apologies," it added.

Sarkozy married pop star Bruni in February after last year divorcing his second wife, Cécilia, who recently married events organiser Richard Attias and lives with him in Dubai.

Photos: Afp