Sarkozy to sound out EU on Olympics

At a joint press conference with Gordon Brown marking the final day of his state visit to London, Mr Sarkozy said they have both been "shocked" by events in Tibet where a wave of anti-Chinese protests have been brutally suppressed by the authorities.

But while Mr Sarkozy said he has not yet decided whether to pull out of the opening ceremony in August, Mr Brown stated flatly that Britain will not boycott the Games.

The disagreement was the one discordant note during the visit in which the two leaders claimed that the old "entente cordiale" between the two nations had been superseded by a new, warmer "entente amicale".

Mr Sarkozy acknowledged that Britain, as host of the 2012 Olympics in London, is in a different position to the other EU member states as it will have to accept the Olympic torch from the Chinese.

However, with France set to take over the rotating six-month EU presidency in July, he made clear that he will use his position to see if other member states support a boycott of the Games.

"I will have to sound out our fellow members whether we should boycott," he said, adding: "Depending on how the situation is looking at the time, I reserve the right to say whether I will attend the opening ceremony."

Mr Brown replied: "We will not be boycotting the Olympic Games. Britain will be attending the Olympic Games ceremonies. The Dalai Lama has not called for the boycott of the Olympics."

For the most part, however, Mr Sarkozy was keen to continue the charm offensive he launched with his speech on Wednesday to the joint Houses of Parliament in which he lavished praise on Britain.

"It is not simply a matter of a one-night stand. I believe that we can go into next-day breakfast as well," he joked.