France urges more sanctions, UN pressure on Syria

PARIS Aug 24 (Reuters) - France wants tougher sanctions on Syria and more pressure from the United Nations to bring about a democratic transition there, government spokeswoman Valerie Pecresse said on Wednesday.

"On the Syrian question, France reaffirms its wish to see tougher sanctions," Pecresse told a news briefing. "We would like to see greater pressure from the United Nations, from the international community, on Syria for a democratic transition."

Western nations circulated a draft U.N. resolution on Tuesday calling for sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, influential members of his family and key associates, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy may discuss the issue when he meets Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Thursday. (Reporting by Daniel Flynn; writing by Catherine Bremer)