France's President Sarkozy greets Greek Prime Minister Papandreou on the steps of the Elysee Palace in Paris
France's President Sarkozy greets Greek Prime Minister Papandreou on the steps of the Elysee Palace in Paris REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

In another overheard exchange with U.S. President Barack Obama at the G20 summit two weeks ago, French President Nicholas Sarkozy allegedly described Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou as "crazy" and "depressed," according to French newspaper, Le Parisien. The conversation first hit the headlines when it leaked that Sarkozy called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "liar"

"Crazy Papandreou comes up with his referendum," Sarkozy allegedly told Obama this time. "It's because he is depressed, so there's no point giving him a hard time about it. He's already on his knees. Knockout."

Sarkozy was flippant on the Greek leader's call for a referendum on the financial bailout agreed at a hurriedly convened emergency meeting the week before.

Papandreou announced on Monday that he would resign after abandoning the referendum idea.

Sarkozy's remarks on Netanyahu were not initially reported, says the BBC, due to a French media decision not to embarrass the country's president. But Israeli newspapers published the exchange in full.

"I can't see him anymore, he's a liar," Sarkozy candidly remarked to Obama in a conversation overheard by journalists.

"You might be tired of him, but me, I have to deal with him every day," Obama allegedly retorted.

The conversation took place in the context of the Palestinian bid for U.N. membership, due to be decided later this month. Sarkozy has said France will vote in favour of the bid, a move that has been criticised by both Netanyahu and Obama.

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