Chirac to vote 'yes' on Maastricht

PARIS (Reuter) - The French conservative leader Jacques Chirac said on Saturday that he would vote 'yes' in September's referendum on the Maastricht Treaty, but would not impose this view on his party.

'I don't want an isolated France and a divided Europe,' said Mr Chirac, whose party, the right-wing Rally for the Republic (RPR), has been split within its own ranks and is at odds with opposition allies over ratification. A nationalist wing of the RPR is against ratification. Two party members have launched a campaign for a 'no' vote.