Sarkozy to seek EU decision on Olympic opening boycott

Last Updated: Thursday, April 24, 2008

CBC News

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he'll push for a European Union-wide decision on whether to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August.

Activists have called for leaders to skip the opening of the Summer Games in protest of China 's human rights record and reaction to deadly protests in Tibet last month.

Sarkozy, who will have assumed the rotating presidency of the 27-member European Union when the Games are on, has suggested he may boycott, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have already said they won't attend.

A decision on whether to attend the Aug. 8 opening ceremony would, however, depend on talks with EU member states because he will be presiding the EU, Sarkozy said.

"That means the 27 countries will have to agree on a common position," Sarkozy said. "It would be better if on this issue Europe spoke with one voice," he added.

The French president, who is approaching the one-year mark in office, gave a wide-ranging television interview Thursday.

He said he was "shocked" by China's actions in Tibet and said France is encouraging China to restart talks with Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who Beijing accuses of masterminding the violence.

China 's crackdown on the Tibetan protests, which erupted after days of peaceful demonstrations in early March, has drawn international criticism.

Beijing says 22 people were killed, while human rights groups suggest dozens more died.

China has blamed the violence on the Dalai Lama and his supporters, alleging they want to split Tibet from China .

The Dalai Lama has rejected those claims, saying he wants Tibetan culture and language preserved.

ngry protesters have tried to disrupt the Olympic torch relay as it makes its way around the world.