PARIS, Muharram 17, 1433, Dec 12, 2011, SPA - Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin says he is running for president as an independent candidate. The announcement Sunday night on French television adds a new twist to the campaign, the Associated Press reported. The Socialists nominated their former leader Francois Hollande in October. President Nicolas Sarkozy has not yet declared but is sure to be the conservative UMP party's candidate. In an interview with TF1 television, the de Villepin conservative promised to be a candidate for all of the French, saying he didn't think the "truth is on the right, on the left or in the center." The French will vote in April and May. --SPA 13:43 LOCAL TIME 10:43 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/951661