French President Nicolas Sarkozy was booed and jeered by an angry crowd of protesters during a visit to France's southwest Basque country on Thursday.

The president was forced to take refuge at the Bar du Palaisfor in central Bayonne for nearly an hour as the protesters started to throw pieces of paper and eggs on him.

"Here, we are in France, on the territory of the French republic, and the president of the republic will go everywhere. And if that doesn't please a minority of troublemakers, too bad for them," said Sarkozy denouncing the incident inside the bar.

Later Sarkozy left the scene with the protection of riot police and an umbrella.

Take a look at President Sarkozy as he leaves the venue:

Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy, France's President and UMP party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, walks in the street protected by plain-clothes policemen during a campaign trip in Bayonne on 1 March 2012. Reuters
Nicolas Sarkozy
French CRS riot police push back demonstrators who gather outside a restaurant in Bayonne Reuters
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy, France's President and UMP party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, is protected by plain-clothes policemen in Bayonne. Reuters
Nicolas Sarkozy
French CRS riot police push back demonstrators who gather outside a restaurant in Bayonne Reuters
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy, France's President and UMP party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, walks in the street protected by plain-clothes policemen during a campaign trip in Bayonne. Reuters
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy, France's President and UMP party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, walks in the street protected by plain-clothes policemen during a campaign trip in Bayonne. Reuters
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy, France's President and UMP party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, walks in the street protected by plain-clothes policemen during a campaign trip in Bayonne. Reuters
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