Mystery over break-in at presidential hopeful's flat

French police are investigating a mysterious break-in at the home of Ségolène Royal, the likely Socialist party candidate in next year's presidential elections.

Ms Royal and her partner, the Socialist party leader, François Hollande, returned from holiday on Thursday to find their flat in the west of Paris had been "turned upside down" but nothing had been stolen.

Ms Royal said wardrobes had been emptied and the flat searched. She accused the interior ministry - run by the conservative presidential contender, Nicolas Sarkozy - of leaking the story to the media.