Mr Wim Duisenberg, the Dutch candidate in a controversial battle over who heads the future European Central Bank (ECB), has ruled out sharing the job with French rival Mr Jean-Claude Trichet.

Interviewed by Dutch state television, Mr Duisenberg said in his first public comment on the dispute that a four-year mandate instead of the stipulated eight years went against the Maastricht Treaty.

"It would be a very bad beginning for the new Central Bank if the first decision relating to it turned out to be in contradiction with the Maastricht Treaty," Mr Duisenberg said.