French President Nicolas Sarkozy became the first world leader to suggest he might boycott the Beijing Olympics yesterday as London and Paris increased the pressure on China over Tibet.

Sarkozy signalled that he might stay away from the opening ceremony in August unless China exercised restraint in dealing with the Tibetan independence movement and opened talks with the Dalai Lama.

"Our Chinese friends must understand the worldwide concern that there is about the question of Tibet," he said.

"I don’t close the door to any option, but I think it’s more prudent to reserve my responses to concrete developments in the situation. I want dialogue to begin and I will graduate my response according to the response given by Chinese authorities."

Meanwhile, Sarkozy’s said despite France considering to snub the opening ceremony, it does not intend to boycott the entire Games.