LONDON, March 27, SPA -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy ended anambitious state visit to Britain on Thursday by sealing amultibillion-pound (-dollar; -euro) defense deal and vowingto cooperate on issues from pressing the U.S. on climatechange to curbing the spread of nuclear weapons technology, according to The Associated Press. But on a rare point of dissonance with his British host,Sarkozy said he could still boycott the opening ceremony ofthe Olympic Games in China _ something Britain's PrimeMinister Gordon Brown insisted he would not do. Sarkozy and Brown showcased their warm friendship duringthe French leader's 36-hour trip amid pomp, ceremony andpromises of a new era of cooperation. Sarkozy said he and Brown had worked «hand in glove»since they both took office last year, but acknowledgedthey were divided over a possible Olympics boycott. He said that because France would hold the EuropeanUnion's rotating presidency during the Olympics, he mustconsult with the rest of the 27-member bloc before making afinal decision. France takes the EU presidency on July 1. But he insisted, «I reserve the right to say whether Iwill attend.» «Depending on how the situation in Tibet evolves, I willhold back from saying whether I will or will not go to theopening ceremony and whether other initiatives should betaken,» Sarkozy told a news conference at London'sEmirates soccer stadium. Brown has said Britain will not boycott the Olympics, andhimself plans to attend the closing ceremony and carry outceremonial duties expected of him as London will stage thenext summer Olympics in 2012. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/540536