Sarkozy preens, ruffles feathers on African tour

DAKAR, July 27 (Reuters) Nicolas Sarkozy has cut France's once cosy ties with leaders of its African ex-colonies, backing the torture trial of Chad's ex-ruler Hissene Habre and Africa's case for a Security Council seat, and his tone has upset some.

Making his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since his election as French president in May, Sarkozy set out his Africa policy in a public speech to Senegal's main university late today, acknowledging colonialism's ills and calling for democracy, liberty, justice and law, to a mixed reception.

''Cliches, more cliches and still cliches. What an insult!'' the Dakar daily Sud Quotiden said on its front page on Friday.

''When I heard him talking to students in a hall full to bursting point, I thought of those missionaries who came to Africa to ''civilise'' our great-grandparents,'' the article said.

But as Sarkozy jetted off to pay homage to Africa's longest serving leader, Omar Bongo of tiny oil-rich Gabon -- a move that itself raised doubts among diplomats wary of Africa's ''dinosaur'' leaders -- some groups welcomed his break with the past.

Sarkozy backed African calls for a bigger role in a reformed UN Security Council, saying after meeting Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade that ''Africa must be represented among the permanent members''.

Sarkozy also pledged financial and legal support to Senegal as it prepares to try former Chadian President Hissene Habre on charges of political killings and torture.

''This is a spectacular and welcome reversal of France's traditional silence on this case,'' Reed Brody of Human Rights Watch told Reuters.

''France is obviously a country with great influence both in Senegal and in Chad. It actually supported Hissene, and one of the reasons I think France has always been reticent is because of its support for Hissene Habre,'' he said.

SCEPTICAL YOUTH Sarkozy has pledged a break with France's traditional relations with Africa, marked by personal ties with the ruling elites of its former colonies and dubbed ''Francafrique''.

Yet some Senegalese were unforgiving of France's record and suspicious of Sarkozy's calls for renewed cooperation which he dubbed ''Eurafrica''.

''France has always been at the side of dirty dictators who have brought Africa to its knees, who have stolen its riches and humiliated its peoples. Will France stop that?'' said a university student who gave his name only as Abdoulaye.

''Africa's youth cannot change the continent single-handed.'' Sarkozy has angered many Africans with his policy of limiting immigration to France based on skills and qualifications, which attracted heckling and criticism during previous visits to African countries as interior minister.

''What France wants with Africa is an immigration policy negotiated together so that young Africans can be welcomed in France and Europe with dignity and respect,'' Sarkozy said, urging migrants to return home to put their new skills to use.

Thousands of young Senegalese have risked treacherous boat crossings to Spain's Canary Islands in the hope of finding work in Europe, many of those who survive the crossing ending up being packed onto planes and flown straight home.

''You'd think he was here to teach school children. We already know all that. What we want is development plans ... and access to Europe for Africans,'' said science student Fallou Fall, 20.

REUTERS GT RN2032