Obama and Sarkozy agree on Middle East strategy

US and French leaders mutually call for Iran not to develop a nuclear weapons programme.

Nicholas Sarkozy agreed with Barack Obama's call for Israel to stop building settlements in the West Bank.
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CAEN, France // The US president Barack Obama and the French president Nicholas Sarkozy are again mutually calling for Iran not to develop a nuclear weapons programme. Mr Obama says he appreciates Mr Sarkozy's leadership on a host of issues. Speaking with reporters after a meeting on Saturday, the US president reaffirmed that there must be "tough diplomacy" with Tehran on this issue. Mr Sarkozy agreed with Mr Obama's call for Israel to stop building settlements in the West Bank, and said he worries about "insane statements" by the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mr Obama said he and Mr Sarkozy will work "in close collaboration" on many issues, including antiterrorism strategy. Mr Sarkozy said France would accept some Guantanamo detainees, as the US has requested.

*AP