Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday joined the growing international chorus of voices urging Zimbabwe's controversial president, Robert Mugabe, to leave office.

"The president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, must go," Sarkozy said during a speech commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is on Wednesday.

"Zimbawe has suffered enough," the French president said. "There have been enough discussions. There comes a moment when a dictator refuses to hear, refuses to understand.... It is time to say: 'Mr Mugabe, you have held your people hostage long enough'."

Sarkozy also presented Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir with an ultimatum, saying that if he did not change his attitude regarding the conflict region of Darfur he will have to face charges at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

"He has very little time to decide. It is a matter of days," Sarkozy said.

Earlier this year, the International Criminal Court indicted al-Bashir for genocide because of his actions in Darfur. (dpa)