"In the current regional context, restraint and moderation and a constructive role in support of a search for settlement are clearly necessary," de Villepin told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers here.

He said dialogue was now a key factor in achieving solutions to Middle East problems, inluding the Iraq war and its repercussions on the search for a settlement between Israel and Palestinians.

"Do not let us underestimate the fact that this region today -- whether at government or popular level -- is experiencing a very deep feeling of unease, frustration, sometimes even humiliation," said de Villepin.

"In such cases we must to talk to each other," he said.

"We have to work and make progress because if we don't look to the future we risk going backwards and increasing tensions. I believe this has been felt very deeply in the region."

President George W. Bush accused Syria Sunday of harbouring chemical weapons and issued a fresh warning to Damascus to cooperate in the war on Iraq.

France, Germany and Russia took a lead in Europe against the invasion of Iraq, while Britain, Spain and Italy sided with Washington.

But de Villepin said he believed positions on Iraq were now very close within Europe.

He reiterated France's belief in a "central" role for the United Nations in postwar Iraq.

Only hours after the US-British attack on Iraq, a European Union summit attempted a show of unity in insisting on the UN role.

But the US continues to insist the world body will not take a leading role in setting up an interim authority for Iraq.

"The United Nations must intervene to provide the national and international legitimacy of which it is the trustee," de Villepin told journalists here.

"It's clear that the American administration has an important role to play," he acknowledged.

"Let's see what the US can offer, as well as what the UN, the European Union and the countries of the region can offer," he suggested, stressing France would give its full support to the Iraqi postwar reconstruction process.

SPACE.WIRE