Sarkozy calls for tough EU sanctions on Myanmar

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday urged the European Union to impose tougher sanctions on Myanmar, denouncing a court ruling against democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as "brutal and unjust", his office said in a statement.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday urged the European Union to impose tougher sanctions on Myanmar, denouncing a court ruling against democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as "brutal and unjust", his office said in a statement.

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"The Burmese (Myanmar) authorities have shown with this iniquitous ruling their decision to ignore pressing messages from the international community," Sarkozy said in the statement.

He said Suu Kyi had been a victim of political trial. On Tuesday, she received an additional 18 months of house arrest for breaking the terms of her detention by allowing a US national to swim into her lakeside compound May 3.

"The president is asking the European Union to respond quickly by adopting new sanctions against the Burmese regime, which must in particular target the resources that it directly profits from - in the wood and ruby sector," said the statement.