It was a show of strength no one expected. After the last cabinet meeting before the summer break, French President Nicolas Sarkorzy assured the press that he was doing well.

"I was run down," he said. "Was it because of dehydration, the heat, exhaustion? I don't know. I've already run thousands of times like that without anything happening to me."

These were Sarkozy's first public remarks since he was hospitalised on Sunday following a dizzy spell during a jog in the gardens of the Versailles palace.

The president was kept at the Val de Grace hospital in Paris until Monday, where he underwent a series of tests.

"I want to say to the people of France that of course I'm in good health," Sarkozy told the nation. "I was feeling somewhat run down, and when the President of the Republic has a problem, it's very normal for French people to be kept informed....
When someone doesn't talk about these things it complicates matters, so I've decided that from now on things will be absolutely clear. If I 'm taken to the hospital or undergo examinations, I will say so."

Sarkozy, who does not drink and who only occasionally smokes cigars, has always made much of his good health. His office said the episode was harmless and blames it on his heavy workload.

"I'm always careful about what I eat and my nutrition and that will continue to be the case," Sarkozy said. "I just need some rest. As far as work goes, I think that when you're President of the Republic you have responsibilities that you have to asume."

And on Wednesday, Sarkozy said on his Facebook page: "I am doing well... but this is telling me I need some rest during this summer."

Not many in the president's entourage were willing to comment on his health. The French governement is out of session for the next three weeks. Sarkozy, along with his wife Carla Bruni, will be heading to the Cote d'Azur and then to Brazil.