Facebook hacker takes over Sarkozy's account

A Facebook hacker took over French president Nicolas Sarkozy's account and posted a false message that he was abandoning plans to run for re-election.

"Dear compatriots, given the exceptional circumstances our country is experiencing, I have decided in my spirit and conscience not to run for office again at the end of my mandate in 2012," News.com.au quoted the message posted by the hacker.

It added a link to a separate page with an invitation to 'leaving drinks' for Sarkozy - set for election day, May 6 next year, at Le Fouquet's cafe on the Champs Elysees, where he celebrated winning the presidency in 2007.

However, the fake announcement on the president's official page on the social networking site had various spelling mistakes and was quickly taken down.

"My Facebook account was hacked into this [Sunday] evening, perhaps to remind me that no system is infallible," said a message on the page after the legitimate account holder reclaimed it.