"Vladimir Putin ‘wanted to hang Georgian President Saakashvili by the balls’" A report of the conversation between Prime Minister Putin and President Sarkozy.

I am going to hang Saskashvili by the balls,” Mr. Putin said

Mr. Sarkozy responded “Hang him?”

“Why not? The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein” said Mr. Putin

Mr. Sarkozy replied, using the familiar “tu”. “Yes but do you want to end up like (President) Bush?” Mr. Putin was briefly lost for words, then replied “Ah, you have scored a point there.”

The exchanged was disclosed as Mr. Sarkozy was about to meet both Mr. Saakashvilli in Paris today and then chair a European summit with President Medvedev of Russin in Nice tomorrow.

The hanging thread was read to Mr. Saakashvilli in a live interview on France Inter radio “I knew about the scene, but not all the details. It’s funny all the same.” Said the Georgian President.