With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgia’s Government. According to Mr Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction.

Putin: “I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls.”

Sarkozy: “Hang him?”

Putin: “Why not? The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”

Sarkozy, using the familiar tu: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?”

Putin, briefly lost for words: “Ah — you have scored a point there.”

London’s Times Online has more.