Sarkozy: French 'Sick' Of UK Advising On Euro

David Cameron has been involved in a furious row with French president Nicolas Sarkozy who said he was sick of the UK offering advice on the euro.

The Prime Minister clashed with Mr Sarkozy during a six-hour EU summit in Brussels as leaders sought to hammer out a solution to the problems gripping the single currency.

The row erupted after the French president tried to insist that a follow-up meeting on Wednesday should be restricted to the 17 eurozone leaders.

At one point in the exchanges, the French president was quoted as telling Mr Cameron: "We are sick of you criticising us and telling us what to do.

"You say you hate the euro and now you want to interfere in our meetings."

Mr Cameron managed to ensure that all 27 member states would attend Wednesday's meeting.

The decision to hold a further summit this week means that Mr Cameron has had to call off visits to Japan and New Zealand ahead of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Perth, Australia.

According to EU officials, Mr Sarkozy complained that he was tired of reading in the newspapers about advice Mr Cameron and his Chancellor were offering the eurozone.

At an end-of-summit press conference, Mr Cameron urged the eurozone leaders to take responsibility for delivering a credible response to restore market confidence in the single currency.

He said the crisis was having a "chilling effect" on all 27 EU economies, adding: "While the UK is not in the eurozone and has no intention of joining, it is in Britain's interest to have a strong and healthy euro."

Last night as the 10 non-eurozone EU leaders left the talks, negotiations between the 17 remaining eurozone leaders on a massive increase in EU bailout funds and a 50% write-down of Greek debt repayment began.

Mr Cameron said: "More progress is needed in the days ahead. There will be another summit on Wednesday and I will be there."