French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Cecilia have divorced after 11 years of marriage, Sarkozy's office said Thursday.

"Cecilia and Nicolas Sarkozy announce their separation by mutual consent. They will make no comment," said a statement released by the Elysee Palace.

A second statement issued two hours later said the couple, who have a 10-year-old son, "have divorced by mutual consent."

Sarkozy is the first French president to divorce while in power. As the news broke, the president left for a European Union summit in Lisbon.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2007)