Doctor gives France's Sarkozy clean bill of health

PARIS, May 24 (Reuters) A doctor has given new French President Nicolas Sarkozy a clean bill of health and certified he is fit enough to run the country, according to a medical bulletin released by the presidency on Friday.

The 52-year-old cycling fan, who goes jogging with his Prime Minister Francois Fillon, promised during the election campaign to be open about his health, in contrast with the secrecy that has shrouded the issue in the past.

''I, doctor Jean-Elie Henry-Mamou, certify that the state of health of President Nicolas Sarkozy is good and fully compatible with the exercise of the presidential office,'' read the certificate released by the Elysee Palace.

The certificate was dated May 11, five days before Sarkozy formally assumed office but after his May 6 presidential election victory.

Conservative President Georges Pompidou died in office of cancer in 1974 at a time when discussing the president's health was considered a taboo.

Socialist Francois Mitterrand started issuing health bulletins on taking power in 1981, but covered up the fact that he had prostate cancer.

Mitterrand revealed his illness in 1992 but after his death four years later his former doctor revealed the Socialist had been diagnosed a few months after taking office.

Jacques Chirac, 74, who stepped down as president earlier this month, was interior minister when Pompidou died and was one of only a few officials who knew the president was gravely ill.

After becoming president in 1995, Chirac declined to issue medical bulletins but pledged not to repeat the previous practice of misleading people through omission.

However, when he was struck down by a blood vessel problem in September 2005, he spent a first night in hospital without anyone in the government, including his Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, being told.

REUTERS SLD BST2227