France urges more sanctions, U.N. pressure on Syria

France wants tougher sanctions on Syria and more pressure from the United Nations to bring about a democratic transition there, government spokeswoman Valerie Pecresse said on Wednesday. "On the Syrian question, France reaffirms its wish to see tougher sanctions," Pecresse told a news briefing. "We would like to see greater pressure from the United Nations, from the international community, on Syria for a democratic transition." Western nations circulated a draft U.N. resolution on Tuesday calling for sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, influential members of his family and key associates, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy may discuss the issue when he meets Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Thursday.