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| Hollande - "Watch my nose grow as I lie." |
Socialist French President Francois Hollande has said he is experiencing a "difficult time" in his private life, following claims of an affair with an actress.
But he refused to answer questions over the report, saying "private matters should be dealt with privately".
Mr Hollande was speaking at his first news conference since the allegations in the magazine Closer last week.
He said he would clarify whether Valerie Trierweiler was still first lady before a February trip to the US.
The news conference was a long-planned event aimed at unveiling policies to help France's struggling economy.
In a speech lasting more than half an hour he addressed the main areas where business wants to see reform.
Facing hundreds of journalists at the presidential palace, Mr Hollande said it was "neither the time nor the place" to answer questions about his personal life.
He said he would not be drawn on the reports of the affairs with actress Julie Gayet "out of respect for those involved".
Ms. Trierweiler has been in hospital since Friday suffering from "shock", her aides say.
Asked about the state of his partner's health, Mr Hollande said she was resting and that he had no further comment to make on the subject.
On the issue of his personal security - which some reports of his affair suggested had been compromised - Mr Hollande said: "When I travel officially and when I travel on a private basis, I have protection that is less suffocating. But I am protected everywhere.''
The president left open the possibility of suing Closer over its report.
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