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 06 July 2008 00:36 BST

French president may boycott Olympic Games over Tibet

Saturday, 05 Apr 2008 18:08
French president Nicolas Sarkozy may bocott China's Olympic Games
French president Nicolas Sarkozy will boycott the Olympic Games in Beijing unless China meets conditions including the release of political prisoners.

But Gordon Brown said he would not be boycotting the games, despite pressure from human rights groups.

The French secretary of state for human rights, Rama Yade, said Mr Sarkozy has three conditions for attending the ceremony: the release of Tibetan political prisoners; clarifying Tibetan events and opening talks with the Dalai Lama.

Mr Sarkozy is refusing to confirm the news, however. His office said Mr Yade spoke as a government member but could not say whether the comments were correct.

The French president has previously refused to rule out a boycott, saying last month: "I don't close the door to any option, but I think it's more prudent to reserve my responses to concrete developments in the situation."

But Britain's prime minister Gordon Brown said on Saturday: "I will attend the Olympics as many others will do.

"The Dalai Lama himself has said that he does not want to see a boycott of the Olympics and that is why I have said as the host country for the 2012 Olympics that is coming up that I will attend."End of story


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