France proposes more troops for Afghanistan

LONDON (Reuters) - President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday France would deploy more troops to Afghanistan to help fight the Taliban and al Qaeda if certain conditions are met by NATO.

Speaking to the British parliament on a state visit to London, Sarkozy said: "France has proposed to its allies in the Atlantic alliance a strategy to enable the Afghan people and their legitimate government to build peace."

"If these proposals are accepted, France will propose at the (forthcoming NATO) summit in Bucharest, reinforcing its military presence. We cannot accept the return of the Taliban and al Qaeda to Kabul."

(Editing by David Clarke)