PARIS —  Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe "must go," according to France's president.

Nicolas Sarkozy's assessment of Zimbabwe's president has taken a very tough tone. He said of Mugabe: "You have taken your people hostage."

Sarkozy holds the rotating presidency of the EU. He spoke Monday in a speech marking the 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

European Union foreign ministers were preparing to tighten sanctions against Zimbabwe's government in a fresh bid to force Mugabe to step down.

The EU wants a power-sharing deal with opposition parties that won a small majority in March parliamentary elections.

Zimbabwe is fighting a cholera epidemic amid a collapsed economy and health care system.