PARIS, France - France on Saturday condemned a series of explosions in Lebanon as an "intolerable" attempt to destabilize the country and said it hopes that those responsible will be caught.

Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Syria must completely withdraw its troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon so that upcoming elections there are free and democratic.

Barnier also said France -- Lebanon's former colonial ruler -- "condemns with the greatest firmness" the latest bombing on Friday in Broummana, a mountain resort overlooking Beirut and the Mediterranean coastline, which injured seven people.

The explosion was the fourth in about two weeks to hit a Christian area of Lebanon where support for the anti-Syrian opposition is high.

The bombings were aimed "at destabilizing Lebanon and the democratic and political process that is underway in this country," said the French foreign minister.

His ministry, through a spokeswoman, called the attacks "intolerable" and said France hopes the bombers will be arrested.

"Light will have to be shed on those responsible for this latest attack and the others," said Barnier, speaking after a meeting in Paris with visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser al-Qidwa.

Lebanon has been in turmoil since the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a massive bombing in Beirut. Hariri and 19 other people were killed.

Barnier said France is "following with a lot of attention" discussions in the United Nations on setting up an international inquiry to determine who ordered and executed the attack. (AP)