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Jean-David Levitte, Sarkozy's chief diplomatic adviser, reported the exchange in a magazine today ahead of an EU-Russia summit in Nice Friday chaired by the French leader and President Medvedev.

With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on Aug. 12, Sarkozy told Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgia, Levitte said.

"I am going to hang Saakashvili BY THE BALLS," Putin replied.

Sarkozy responded:
"Hang him?"

"Why not? The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein," Putin said.

Sarkozy replied, using the familiar "tu":
"Yes but do you want to end up like (President) Bush?"

Putin was briefly lost for words, then said:
"Ah, you have scored a point there....."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5147422.ece