PARIS, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy repeated on Thursday that France has "no place for burkas", which covers women's whole body, during his speech on national identity.

    France has "no place for bondage for women... and no place for spiritual and secular confusion," Sarkozy said during his visit in Drome department, Southeast France, local media reported.

    In Sarkozy's view, the Muslim rule to veil women face and body is "in certain circumstances" chains for women.

    The high key president has spoken out against burka in France in a major policy speech in June.

    France now lives the largest Muslim community in Europe, but as early as in 2004, Islamic headscarves or other conspicuous religious symbols had been banned in state schools.

    National identity is a key campaign slogan in Sarkozy's run for president in 2007. French Immigration Minister Eric Bess on on Nov. 2 launched a countrywide debate on national identity to make out what are unifiable symbols for French people and what immigration contributes to the national identity.