Briefly

FRANCE

Sarkozy defends record ahead of vote

PARIS | President Nicolas Sarkozy defended his diplomatic record Sunday ahead of an election in April, praising France’s role in Europe and Libya but acknowledging some errors had been made.

In an interview with French quarterly review Politique Internationale, Mr. Sarkozy highlighted what he said were diplomatic successes in reforming Europe, ending the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, and intervening in Libya.

“I believe the international action that I took in France’s name … was useful,” Mr. Sarkozy said.

He said he was particularly proud to have worked with Germany on imposing fiscal restraint rules in the European Union in response to the eurozone economic crisis.

Mr. Sarkozy also highlighted his role as EU president in 2008 in “putting an end to the war between Russia and Georgia” and France’s participation in the Libya intervention, saying it had saved “the people of Benghazi from the bloodbath [Moammar] Gadhafi had promised.”

FINLAND

Finns unfazed by freeze in presidential vote

HELSINKI | Finns faced the Arctic freeze Sunday to vote in the second round of a presidential election, with conservative Sauli Niinistoe favored to win the runoff against his Green liberal opponent.

Electors warmly bundled up against the cold streamed into polling stations despite the minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit freeze in Helsinki to pick the man they want to succeed President Tarja Halonen.

Finland’s popular president is stepping down after serving a maximum of two consecutive terms, ending a 30-year spell of Social Democratic presidents in the small Nordic country.

In the race to replace her, the conservative National Coalition Party’s Mr. Niinistoe enjoyed 62 percent support in the latest opinion poll published Thursday, compared to 38 percent for outsider Pekka Haavisto.

The 63-year-old Mr. Niinistoe - who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand by climbing a tree - has consistently trounced Mr. Haavisto in the opinion polls.

UNITED KINGDOM

Queen prepares to mark 60 years on throne

LONDON | Queen Elizabeth II braved the cold and snow to attend church Sunday on the eve of her Diamond Jubilee anniversary.

Bundled in a brown coat and matching fur hat, Elizabeth was joined by her husband, Prince Philip, at the service at West Newton church on her Sandringham Estate in eastern England.

The 85-year-old monarch marks 60 years on the throne Monday. The anniversary will be marked by a series of regional, national and international events throughout 2012.

Elizabeth ascended the throne when her father, George VI, died on Feb. 6, 1952. She is the longest-serving monarch after Queen Victoria, who reigned for more than 63 years.

• From wire dispatches and staff reports