Baron Cohen gets the hump in Cannes (From Wiltshire Times)

Baron Cohen gets the hump in Cannes

11:28am Wednesday 16th May 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Sacha Baron Cohen has rocked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival - on a camel.

The controversial comedian turned up for a photocall to promote his new film, The Dictator, in character as fictional leader Admiral General Aladeen.

A camel was led to him, which he mounted and rode down the famous Croisette to apparently take in some shopping.

Sacha - kitted out in a riding helmet, boots and jodhpurs - appeared to struggle to keep his balance as he posed on top of the animal.

Flanked by glamorous models in military uniform wearing mini-skirts, the Ali G star also posed in front of an ornate palace entrance bedecked by portraits of the admiral.

The Dictator - which features cameos from Megan Fox and Sir Ben Kingsley - tells the story of the admiral, leader of the imaginary Republic of Wadiya, inspired by former dictators such as Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi and Kim Jong-il.

The stunt came on the opening day of the annual French movie extravaganza.

Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom is opening the 65th festival with its premiere, and the director as well as actors Bruce Willis, Edward Norton and possibly Bill Murray are set to make their way down Cannes' grand red carpet.

The festival runs until May 27.