By Ian Moriarty

France’s human rights minister tonight denied a report that quoted her as saying President Nicolas Sarkozy would boycott the Olympic opening ceremony unless China releases political prisoners and starts talks with the Dalai Lama.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy could boycott the Olympics opening ceremony unless China releases political prisoners and opens a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, a French government minister was today quoted as saying.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned an attempt by a French group to spirit more than 100 children out of Chad on the grounds that they were orphans from Darfur in danger of being killed.

France’s new government was holding its first Cabinet meeting today, taking up a first batch of planned reforms, as President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to move fast on changes now that a new government is in place.