France ponders more Afghan troops

LONDON, March 27 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he may offer additional French troops for Afghanistan at next week's NATO summit in Bucharest.

Sarkozy, currently on a state visit in Britain, has said he would send more troops, subject to certain conditions, the BBC said.

Sarkozy told the British parliament Thursday that the Taliban cannot be allowed to regain power. He said France "has proposed a strategy to its allies in the Atlantic alliance to enable the Afghan people and their legitimate government to build peace."

He said if his proposals are accepted, France will propose reinforcing its military presence.