French President Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife, Cécilia Attias, is heading to the USA to work full time on a campaign that aims to curb domestic violence against women.

Cécilia married multi-millionaire businessman Richard Attias shortly after divorcing Sarkozy. She will be residing in New York where she will spearhead the Cécilia Attias Foundation for Women. She told Gala magazine she is making the move to the US in order to "give everything" to the foundation.

The cause chosen by Cécilia has fueled speculation about what actually went on behind closed doors when she was married to Sarkozy.

Sarkozy's temper has become a talking point. Carla Bruni recently said in an interview "A lot of people are scared of him, not just because of his position, but because of his temper. I don't think he ever had the time for la dolce vita. I showed him how."

It got bad at times between Sarkozy and his ex - bad enough that at one point Sarko had to make an exit from the home he shared with Cécilia in Neuilly-sur-Seine and spend cooling-off time with a friend.

The police received notice of 'brutal exchanges'. No official action was taken but it was sufficiently serious that then interior minister, Francois Baroin, warned Sarkozy about the complaint.

Tensions in the marriage were made public. Cécilia refused to vote for Sarkozy in the presidential elections and then drove home the point with a no-show at his victory celebrations.

Following this when she did appear in public she appeared tearful at times and distressed. She was briefly admitted to hospital and put on anti-depressants.

The vicious row that led to Sarkozy absenting himself from the home, is mentioned in the book Love, Rupture and Betrayal by the French author Hubert Coudurier.

In his book Coudurier gives an insight into Sarkozy's expectations of the women in his life.

For a period Sarkozy had a relationship with Anne Fulda, a political reporter for Le Figaro. She claims he was accustomed to 'being served' and would request that she get his things ready in the morning. When Fulda refused to comply, Sarko would complain "But Cécilia used to do it".

Coudurier's take on it: "The man of power often behaves like a child when he is told 'no'."