Sarkozy Dangles Olympic Boycott

'Open' to skipping opening ceremonies if China-Tibet tensions don't improve
Posted Mar 25, 2008 12:35 PM CDT
Sarkozy Dangles Olympic Boycott
Tibetan Buddhist nuns sit with Tibetan flags in their hands at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharmsala before the beginning of a silent protest march.   (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Nicolas Sarkozy says "all options are open" in terms of a possible boycott of the opening ceremonies of Beijing's Olympics. While his aides say that France would oppose a full boycott of the games, the French prez is signaling his discontent with China's recent crackdown in Tibet. "I want a dialogue to start and I will step up my response according to the response given by the Chinese authorities," said Sarkozy.

Western nations are pressing China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, the BBC reports, whose Tibetan government-in-exile claims 130 people have been killed by Chinese troops in the crackdown. Other world leaders, including George Bush and Gordon Brown, are still planning to attend the opening ceremonies. (More Nicolas Sarkozy stories.)

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