"We support France's efforts in Lebanon," he told the Al-Manar channel. "We believe the French attitude to be impartial, in contrast with that of the United States.

"A solution can only be brought about by agreement among the Lebanese themselves. We support French efforts in this regard," Muallem added.

Paris is working towards jump-starting talks between Lebanon's anti-Syrian majority, which is supported by the West and most Arab states, and the Hezbollah-led opposition which is backed by Syria and Iran.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner left Beirut at the end of July after failing to achieve any breakthrough and after warning of the danger of violence if the continuing political standoff is not resolved through talks.

Kouchner did succeed in gathering representatives of feuding Lebanese factions around the same table, but he said his trip was "just a step, and don't expect me to resolve Lebanon's problems."

He also said he planned to return to Beirut in August and that he was considering hosting a second conference similar to the July 14-15 meeting which gathered all Lebanese parties near Paris.

The opposition in Lebanon no longer recognises the legitimacy of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's government since six pro-Syrian ministers resigned from his cabinet last November, sparking the country's worst political crisis since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.

Hezbollah, bolstered by a self-proclaimed victory during last year's war with Israel, is pushing for the opposition to be better represented in government in order to give it veto power.

Parliament is due to elect a successor to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, whose term runs out on November 25. The president is elected by a two-thirds majority, failing which a second round is held with only an absolute majority needed.

While the majority controls enough seats to elect a president, it still needs the pro-Syrian opposition led by Hezbollah to take part for the two-thirds quorum which parliament traditionally needs to convene. -AFP