Controversial French minister, not naming baby's father, to ignore maternity leave

London, January 5 (ANI): French Justice Minister Rachida Dati, who gave birth by caesarean section to a baby girl named Zohra on Friday, and has yet not revealed the name of the child's father, may make a lightning return to work on Wednesday.

A spokesman has revealed that the 43-year-old glamorous Muslim minister has already been "following the affairs of the ministry" from her maternity bed in a clinic in Paris.

Since Dati had herself insisted on not taking more than a week's maternity leave, her advisers say that they "won't be surprised" to see her attend an informal cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and then listen to President Nicolas Sarkozy's New Year address to France's highest court.

Well known as France's first cabinet minister of North African origin, Dati has sparked speculation about the identity of her child's father.

According to the Telegraph, possible candidates include a French millionaire and hotel and casino baron, and the former prime minister of another European country. (ANI)