Syria asks France to help direct talks with Israel

PARIS (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad asked France on Saturday to assist in direct peace negotiations between Syria and Israel, alongside the United States, and contribute to future security arrangements in the region.

A joint Franco-Syrian statement after Assad met President Nicolas Sarkozy also said the French leader welcomed the Syrian president's strong determination to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon.

It said Sarkozy would visit Syria by mid-September to build relations between Paris and Damascus, which have been tense since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in 2005, which France believes was orchestrated from Damascus.

(reporting by Paul Taylor, editing by Crispian Balmer)