PARIS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy affirmed Friday during a cabinet meeting that "France must be present in Iraq," French government spokesman Laurent Wauquiez has said.

    "France must be present in Iraq, France must be present in various Arab countries, it must portray an acceptable international foreign policy," Sarkozy was quoted as saying by Wauquiez.

    The French head of state thanked his foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, saying his visit in Iraq was difficult and was carried in a remarkable manner.

    Kouchner's visit to Iraq has been criticized in France, with some analysts saying France should not start embracing Iraq under the pretext that it was opposed to the United States' military intervention there.