French Socialist candidate tries to boost international street cred, fails

France's socialist candidate for president Segolene Royal toured the Middle East "in a bid to boost her credentials for the world stage." Sounds like she didn't do too well.

During a meeting with a Lebanese MPs in Beirut on Friday, Royal had voiced agreement with an MP from the Hezbollah militant movement, Ali Ammar, that US foreign policy smacked of "insanity".

She said she shared his views "on a lot of things, notably his analysis of the role of the United States."

Ammar also compared Israel's behaviour towards Lebanon — which Israel bombarded over July and August in its 34-day war with Hezbollah — with "Nazism".

Ms. Royal was also reported to have called for Israeli forces to pull out of Slovenia and for America to cease its aerial bombardment of Canada.