France and Britain Favor Air Strikes Against Qaddafi, If Needed

March 11: French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, speaks with British Prime Minister David Cameron during an EU Summit in Brussels. (AP)

BRUSSELS, Belgium – France and Britain have spoken out in favor of air strikes, if needed, against Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi in case he uses chemical weapons or air strikes against his people, French president Nicolas Sarkozy announced at an EU summit.

At the summit in Brussels, Sarkozy said Paris had "many reservations" on military or NATO intervention in Libya "because Arab revolutions belong to Arabs." AFP reports.

Sarkozy added that he and British prime minister David Cameron were "ready on condition that the UN wishes, that the Arab League accepts and the Libyan opposition agrees, for targeted actions if Mr. Qaddafi uses chemical weapons or air strikes against peaceful citizens."

Sarkozy encouraged other European leaders to officially recognize the opposition against Qaddafi.

The AFP contributed to this report