Sunday, May 29, 2005

French voters have overwhelmingly rejected the European Union's proposed constitution in a key referendum.

Almost 55% of people voted "No" and 45% "Yes" on Sunday, according to final interior ministry figures.

The vote could deal a fatal blow to the EU constitution, which needs to be ratified by all 25 members states.

President Jacques Chirac accepted the voters' "sovereign decision", but said it created "a difficult context for the defence of our interests in Europe".

The French leader had campaigned hard for a "Yes" vote.

The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says the result is a political earthquake, whose reverberations will be felt across Europe.