Since being defeated by Hollande last May -- and vowing never to return to politics -- Sarkozy has kept a low profile, working at his law firm in central Paris.

CNN: Sarkozy considering return to French politics

Mr Prodi, who defeated Mr Berlusconi in a general election seven years ago, could well return to Italy in 2004 to lead the opposition into the next one.

ECONOMIST: Berlusconi��s blunder

The government has been defeated in the Lords over plans to allow employees to give up workplace rights in return for shares in the company they work for.

BBC: Peers reject workplace rights-for-shares scheme

In the Champions League, it advanced to the round of 16, where it defeated none other than mighty Barcelona, 2-0, in the first leg, with the return, at the Camp Nou, on March 12.

WSJ: Comebacks Are in Fashion in Milan