6pm GMT

Sarkozy signals more French troops for Afghanistan

Nicolas Sarkozy addresses MPs and peers at Westminster
Nicolas Sarkozy addresses MPs and peers at Westminster. Photograph: Stephen Hird/Reuters

Nicolas Sarkozy today sought to establish his credentials as a good ally to Britain by declaring his readiness to deploy more French troops to Nato's mission in Afghanistan.

In a speech to a joint session of both houses of parliament that was greeted by a standing ovation, the French president said "we could not accept the return of the Taliban and al-Qaida to Kabul".

France has 1,900 troops in Afghanistan, but contributing countries are quarrelling over the troubled Nato mission

Canada has threatened to pull its 2,500 troops out of Afghanistan if other allies do not commit more support.

Sarkozy said France had put forward a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan that had been well received by Nato allies.

"France will therefore propose at the Bucharest summit to strengthen her military presence. We cannot accept the return of the Taliban and al-Qaida in Kabul," Sarkozy said to applause.

Sarkozy, who is making the first state visit by a French leader since 2004, also called for a dialogue between the Chinese government and Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Before his arrival in London, Sarkozy held out the possibility that France might boycott the opening ceremony of Olympic games in Beijing.

"All options are open," he said when asked about the possibility of a boycott in protest at the Chinese crackdown on protests in Tibet.

His comments put him at odds with British ministers, who have rejected calls for a boycott of the opening ceremony.

But Sarkozy spent much of his time buttering up his audience by praising Britain's contributions to democracy and by thanking Britain for its help during the second world war.

He called for an end to the historical idea that Europe and the Anglo-American alliance were incompatible and spoke of the need for Nato and European defence.

While France's close ties with Germany remained important, Sarkozy said, that should not be at the expense of strong French ties with Britain. Like Gordon Brown he called for reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and an expansion of the G8 group of industrial leaders to include some of the world's emerging economic powers.

The Sarkozys will also attend a state banquet tonight with the Queen at Windsor Castle. Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, arrived this morning at Heathrow airport where he was greeted by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on behalf of the Queen.

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