French president Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni have finally confirmed that they are expecting a baby, following weeks of speculation surrounding the couple.

The president's father Pal Sarkozy spilled the beans on the new addition to the family photobook while speaking to German newspaper Bild.

According to media sources, he added that neither the president nor his wife "want to know the sex of the child, but I'm sure it's a girl who'll be as beautiful as Carla".

This baby will be the first child for the couple, who have been married since 2008, although both have children from previous marriages and relationships.

Mr Sarkozy has four children from two previous marriages, and former model and singer Ms Bruni has a nine-year-old son from a previous relationship.

The Connexion reported that the pregnancy represented a presidential first, as no other president and first lady had welcomed a new arrival while in office.