The French referendum rejected the European Union (EU) Constitution with around 55 percent of voters saying "no" to the charter, according to exit polls released immediately after the end of balloting at 10: 00 PM local time Sunday.

According to the Audiovisual Superior Council polling organization, the "no" camp had won an estimated 55.6 percent of the vote, the Ipsos institute estimated the exit poll at 55 percent, while Sofres said 54.5 percent had voted "no".

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier described the rejection as "a real disappointment".

"This is an ordeal, a real disappointment," Barnier said on TF1national television shortly after the release of exit polls showing a massive defeat of the landmark EU charter at the ballot box.

"This is an ordeal for our country because it will be harder for our country to defend its interests," he noted.

"I know that across Europe, this decision will give rise to a lot of incomprehension and disappointment, but there is a need to rally behind the president," he added.

French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie called the result on France 2 television a "defeat for France, a defeat for Europe."

French far-right leader of the National Front Jean-Marie Le Pen called for the resignation of President Jacques Chirac following the rejection.

"It opens up a future if the president draws the correct consequences from the results of this referendum -- in other words his resignation," Le Pen said on national television.

"He is deeply implicated." he said, adding that Instead of remaining neutral in the debate as his function required, the president tried to influence it with all his weight.

"In these conditions he is no longer qualified to stay at the head of the country. Not just he but his government must hand back their mandate to the people who spoke so unmistakably this evening," Le Pen said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2005)