A Belgian newscaster offered apologies for hinting French President Nicolas Sarkozy was drunk in footage shot at the G8 summit that ranks among the top video clips on the YouTube website, AFP reported.
In a comment to footage from the opening moments of Sarkozy's news conference Belgian journalist Eric Boever said "apparently he had more than just water to drink."
Boever offered his apologies to the French embassy in Brussels and asked that they be conveyed to Sarkozy's office, said Yves Thiran, director of Belgian francophone public broadcaster RTBF, on Tuesday.
"I apologize for the proportions that this is taking," said Boever, adding that his remark was made in jest.
"I obviously did not want to offend French national sensitivities, especially since I am also French through my mother."
The French presidency declined to comment.