"Whatever happens, the nature of the facts - which one remembers perfectly - justify that justice be done, and severely," he told reporters.

The United States has insisted that Abbas, who masterminded the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in which a US citizen was murdered, be brought to trial after his capture in Baghdad this week.

But the Palestinian Authority has called for Abbas to be released, saying his detention is illegal because of an immunity clause in the 1995 Oslo Peace Accords.

Chirac this week took a small step towards bridging differences with the United States over Iraq, speaking with President George W. Bush for the first time in two months.

The French leader was speaking after talks in Athens with UN chief Kofi Annan, who was invited to an EU summit designed to sign an historic accession treaty but clouded by Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE