French First Lady Carla Bruni pregnant?

London, Aug 24: Barely a month after Carla Bruni

expressed her desire to have a child with her husband French

President Nicolas Sarkozy, speculation is rife that the former

Italian supermodel-turned-singer is pregnant.

According to a report in British newspaper the 'Daily

Mail', President Sarkozy's tender pat on Bruni's belly, while

the couple were ...

on the French Riviera, has fuelled the speculation.

The leading newspaper has also published photographs

of the 53-year-old flamboyant French French President kissing

his bikini-clad wife and touching her belly while on holiday

in the Mediterranean sea this month.

In fact, rumours about Bruni's having a baby with

Sarkozy have been doing the rounds ever since the start of the

couple's 80-day whirlwind romance, which finally culminated

into marriage this February.

Last month, in an interview to a lifestyle magazine,

the 40-year-old French First Lady had said that she was not

pregnant but she would like to try for a baby with Sarkozy,

though her age could be a problem.

"I'm not pregnant and I regret it because I love it

when I am. Will it happen? It is very difficult for me to say.

However, it is more difficult when you are 40 than when you

are 25," she had said.

Bruni has a son from a previous relationship while

Sarkozy has three sons from his first two marriages as well as

two step daughters.

However, the Elysee Palace has refused to comment on

the matter.