No direct Syria-Israel peace talks for 6-mths -Assad

PARIS (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Saturday he did not expect direct peace talks with Israel in the next six months, adding that the current U.S. administration was not interested in peace in the Middle East.

Assad asked France on Saturday to assist in face-to-face talks between Syria and Israel, but he has made clear that the United States should be closely involved in the process and has not given any date for when they might start.

The United States goes to the polls in November and U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office next January.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; editing by Paul Taylor)