Foreign Polls: Sarkozy Ahead in France

French conservative presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy shakes hands with supporters after voting for the second round of the presidential election in Neuilly sur Seine, outside Paris, Sunday May 6, 2007. French voters cast ballots Sunday in a presidential election that offers a clear choice for the country's future, with conservative front-runner Sarkozy urging France to work more and Socialist Segolene Royal pledging to safeguard welfare protections. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) (Remy De La Mauviniere - AP)

BRUSSELS -- Swiss and Belgian media, citing exit polls, reported that Nicolas Sarkozy was headed for victory by a comfortable margin in France's presidential election on Sunday.

In Belgium, television and newspaper Web sites had Sarkozy winning with between 53 and 55 percent of the vote over Socialist Segolene Royal. In Switzerland, the Lausanne-based daily 24 Heures and the Tribune de Geneve also projected Sarkozy winning with between 53 and 55 percent of the vote, citing exit polls.

French election law bans the publication in France of exit polls, projections or partial results until all polling stations close at 2 p.m. EDT. French media plan their own projections at that time.