2 women in close race to lead French opposition

French Socialists were to vote yesterday on a new leader for their divided party with two women heading a tight race.

Former presidential candidate Segolene Royal is battling with Martine Aubry, the author of France's 35-hour workweek law, to determine the party's direction.

The winner of the vote among Socialist Party members is likely to be the top challenger to conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy in the next presidential elections in 2012.