France expresses concerns over U.S. raid

PARIS (Reuters) - France is "seriously concerned" about a U.S. helicopter raid which Syria says took place on its territory, President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said in a statement on Monday.

Syria has accused the United States of "terrorist aggression" after Sunday's raid near its border with Iraq in which it says eight civilians were killed. A U.S. official said the raid killed a major smuggler of foreign fighters into Iraq.

"After an American helicopter raid against a Syrian village near the Iraqi border, France expresses its serious concerns and deplores the loss of Syrian civilian lives," the statement from Sarkozy's office said.

"France calls for restraint and underlines its attachment to the strict respect of the territorial integrity of states," said the statement, and urged for all possible light to be shed on the operation.

France has recently rekindled ties with Syria after a cold patch following the 2005 assassination of Lebanese statesman Rafik al-Hariri, which France and other Western countries believe was orchestrated from Syria.

Sarkozy visited Damascus in September, the first Western head of government to do so since the Hariri assassination. He has been looking for Syrian help in resolving political and diplomatic problems in Lebanon, Iran and Gaza.

Sarkozy's overtures came after President Bashar al-Assad embarked on indirect peace talks with Israel and adopted what was seen as a more conciliatory stance toward Lebanon.

Since taking office last May, Sarkozy has fostered warmer ties with Washington since taking over from Jacques Chirac, who fell out with U.S. President George Bush over the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Jon Boyle)