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| French head will attend Olympics | French head will attend Olympics |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed that he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on 8 August. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed that he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on 8 August. |
| He was speaking after meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao at the G8 summit. | He was speaking after meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao at the G8 summit. |
| President Hu stressed "the Olympic values of peace, friendship and brotherhood", according to a statement from Mr Sarkozy's office. | President Hu stressed "the Olympic values of peace, friendship and brotherhood", according to a statement from Mr Sarkozy's office. |
| There had been speculation that the French President would stay away in protest over Chinese actions in Tibet. | There had been speculation that the French President would stay away in protest over Chinese actions in Tibet. |
| Human rights' groups have urged world leaders to register their disapproval by refusing to attend the Beijing ceremony. | Human rights' groups have urged world leaders to register their disapproval by refusing to attend the Beijing ceremony. |
| Reporters Without Borders has said that Mr Sarkozy would pour "scorn on his commitments to the French people", if he went to Beijing. | |
| EU representative | |
| Mr Sarkozy had previously urged the Chinese leadership to hold talks with envoys of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and release political prisoners. | |
| But the French announcement of Mr Sarkozy's acceptance of the Olympic invitation made no mention of the Dalai Lama. | |
| Mr Sarkozy said he had discussed his decision with other European Union countries. | |
| France currently holds the EU presidency, and President Sarkozy will represent the 27-nation bloc in Beijing. | |
| US President George W Bush has said he will attend the Olympic opening, but Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper plan to stay away. | |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will not be present on 8 August, but plans to attend the closing ceremony. |