Paris, Aug 30 (IANS) French President Francois Hollande Friday said Paris would take part in any action on Syria despite a British parliamentary opposition to a government motion to authorise such a move in principle, reports Xinhua.
On being asked whether Paris could intervene in the Arab country without the support of its British allies, Hollande said: “Yes.”
“Each country is sovereign to participate or not in an operation. That is valid for Britain as it is for France,” he said.
“There are few countries that have the capacity to inflict a sanction by the appropriate means. France is one of them,” he added.
“We are ready. We will decide our position in close liaison with our allies,” Hollande told daily Le Monde, a local newspaper, in an interview.
Hollande said that the chemical attack allegedly carried out by the government forces in Syria should not go “unpunished” and France “wants action that is in proportion, and firm against the Damascus regime”.
A possible intervention in Syria could be launched before the parliament emergency session set for Wednesday, he said.
“If I’ll engage France, the government will inform (the parliament) about the objectives and means deployed,” the president said.
Hollande will hold talks with his American counterpart Barack Obama later in the day.