London, March 12 (IANS) French President Nicolas Sarkozy Friday termed as 'ridiculous rumours' the media reports about extramarital affair of his wife Carla Bruni, who was reported to have been holidaying in Thailand with an old friend.

Sarkozy, who travelled to Britain without his spouse, refused to be drawn on the issue when confronted by a French reporter during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sky News reported.

The French president refused to comment on 'ridiculous rumours' about his private life.

'I certainly don't have time to deal with these ridiculous rumours, not even half a fraction of a second,' he said.

'I don't even know why you use your speaking time to put such an idiotic question,' Sarkozy reacted to the query.

According to media reports Thursday, the president asked his wife to end her romantic break in Thailand and return home. He even chartered a plane to bring her back.

Bruni, a former super model, had accompanied her husband on an earlier visit to London after he became president.