Sarkozy's wife rallies British women to help end childbirth tragedies

CARLA Bruni-Sarkozy yesterday called on women to unite in the battle to help mothers who die needlessly in childbirth.

France's first lady told 150 of Britain's most high-profile women they were "the hope" of hundreds of thousands of mothers worldwide. Speaking in English at a lunch she co-hosted with Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister's wife, at Lancaster House in London, she said: "I know my husband and the Prime Minister are today agreeing to work together to increase the numbers of health workers in Africa.

"One important step and one of the great tragedies of our time takes place in the shadows, particularly in developing countries, when the most intense and wonderful moment of their lives – labour – might result in tragedy.

"Every one of these tragedies plunges people into despair. You, in the face of all this, you are the hope."

The lunch was in support of the White Ribbon Alliance charity that tackles maternal mortality. The guests included the singer Annie Lennox, writers Lady Antonia Fraser, Kathy Lette and Arabella Weir, the cook Tana Ramsay and businesswoman Karren Brady.