French PM raises human rights concerns with Syria

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said he held "frank and direct" talks with Syria's president on the issue of human rights, days after the trial of a Syrian lawyer who championed the cause of political prisoners.

France has led European moves to help Syria emerge from diplomatic isolation, though Syrian authorities have intensified arrests of politicians and others calling for democracy.

"Yesterday I exchanged views with President (Bashar al-) Assad on human rights. The discussion was frank and direct," Fillon said in the Syrian capital on Saturday.

"Our dialogue with the Syrian authorities ... permits us to open all the subjects on which we have different views," said Fillon, who signed economic deals and other agreements.

Assad's ruling Baath Party took power in 1963, banning all opposition and imposing emergency laws that are still in force.

One of the main figures in jail is Mohannad al-Hassani, a 43-year-old lawyer who was arrested in July last year and charged with "weakening national morale," the same charge he has spent his professional life campaigning against.

FRANCE "CANNOT DROP HUMAN RIGHTS"

French lawyers rallied to Hassani's support. Christian Bournazel, head of the Paris Bar, described a decision by the Damascus Bar to expel Hassani as "disgraceful."

Hassani's trial began behind closed doors on Thursday and his friends hold out little hope of him being freed.

Fillon said that although France had disagreements with Syria on human rights and other issues, it was important to keep discussions open with the government in Damascus.

"We are pleased that the United States followed suit," he said, referring to the rapprochement started under President Barack Obama with Syria.

Syria views Fillon's visit as another nail in the coffin of Western attempts to isolate Damascus, but one Western diplomat in the Syrian capital said French concerns over human rights will not disappear.

"The French cannot just drop the issue," he said.

Syria was ostracized, mostly by Western nations, following the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister, Rafik al-Hariri.

A United Nations investigation implicated Syrian security officials in the killing, but Damascus denied any involvement.

(Editing by Jon Hemming)