'Sarkozy allies urge France's Fillon to name replacement'

Embattled French presidential candidate Francois Fillon should step aside and name a replacement, allies close to ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy said today, as infighting raged in their rightwing Republicans party.

Lawmakers close to Sarkozy met today and decided that Fillon should "assume his responsibility and name a successor," several party sources told AFP, asking not to be named.