Carla Bruni, Italian singer, former model and girlfriend of France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, holds the hand of her son Aurelien while wearing a pink heart-shaped ring during a visit to the ancient Jordanian ruins of Petra Jan. 5, 2008. French newspapers reported Sunday that Sarkozy gave Bruni an engagement ring and could marry her early in February.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy married former model Carla Bruni on Saturday at the Elysee Palace, according to media reports Sunday.

    The official announcement of the wedding was released by Sarkozy's office several hours before the wedding ceremony. "They were married this morning in the presence of their families in the strictest privacy," according to the statement.

    The wedding lasted about 20 minutes and was attended by close family and friends, said Francois Lebel, the mayor of Paris's 8th arrondissement, who oversaw the formalities this morning, as media reported.

    The wedding was the third for Sarkozy, who has three children. It was the first for Bruni, an Italian-born heiress who had a major modeling career and a well-publicized lovelife.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L), and his girlfriend Carla Bruni (R) are seen during their to visit ancient Jordanian ruins of Petra Jan. 5, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Sarkozy, 53, has hinted at a wedding with Bruni, 40, since the couple met in November, one month after he ended his 11-year marriage to his second wife.

    The couple went public with their relationship during a visit to Disneyland Paris, and they carried out their brief but highly publicized courtship in such places as the ruins of Petra, Jordan.

    Sarkozy split up from his second wife Cecilia in October 2007. It was the first time in modern French history a serving president had separated from his wife.

    Now, Sarkozy made another historical occasion - "the first time in the history of the Republic that a president has got married in office," said Lebel.

    (Agencies)