PARIS - France said on Wednesday that it had taken note of a statement by Syria that it was, in turn, breaking off cooperation and contacts with France on the Lebanese issue, further hampering the process of electing a new President there.

The Syrian statement, delivered by Foreign Minister Waleed Muallem, blamed France for the failure in efforts to get an agreement on the future Lebanese President and to bring the 14 different Lebanese factions together on a "consensus" candidate.

From the Syrian view, the French failed to get acceptance on the Lebanese side of an agreement that had been more or less approved in Paris and Damascus.

Earlier, speaking from Egypt on December 30, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced France was breaking off diplomatic initiatives with Syria because of supposed obstacles Damascus was still putting in the way of the electoral process in Beirut.

"We have learned of this announcement," French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said of Muallem's televised address Wednesday.

The Syrian claimed to be in possession of a signed "entente" document between the two sides, a claim that Paris would not confirm Wednesday.

"I cannot confirm to you the existence of such a document," Andreani said, noting that "the exchanges between Syria and France aimed to favour an entente between the Lebanese parties on the election of a President with broad support.

" The French official also rejected suggestions that France had given Syria too much importance in the Lebanese equation.

Several senior advisors to Sarkozy travelled to Damascus several times to discuss the issue and Sarkozy, himself, called Syria President Bashar Al-Assad to explore ways to resolve the crisis.

This was particularly significant given Sarkozy's tough statements on the Syrian government after his election in May and how he did not feel the time was right to get in contact at high level with Damascus.

"We gave no axial role to whomever," Andreani countered when asked about the role given to Syria.

"It is firstly up to the Lebanese to settle this crisis. France, which remains mobilized, is still ready on its side to contribute to the search for a solution," the spokeswoman indicated.

"We have told the Syrians that our political contacts were being halted until Syria shows its good faith and a President with broad support is elected in Lebanon. Our position and our expectations are known. They are those of the international community, and notably the Europeans as the (EU) Portuguese Presidency recalled on December 31," she said. -Kuna