French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has expressed "France's solidarity" with Lebanon with the country's Prime minister Fouad Siniora, in the wake of violence engulfing the country, according to a statement issued Monday by the French Foreign Ministry.

During a telephone conversation on Sunday with Siniora, Kouchner reaffirmed "the great importance" which France attaches to "the independence, sovereignty and stability of Lebanon" and hence the need to "enquire about the situation, especially in Tripoli," according to the statement.

Bloody clashes between the Lebanese army and Fatah al-Islam militants erupted Sunday in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, during which forty six people, including 27 soldiers, 17 Islamists and two civilians, were killed, according to military, Palestinian and hospital sources.

The French minister further "firmly condemned" the bomb attack which occurred Sunday in the Achrafie area in Beirut causing one death and injuring 10 others.

Kouchner also discussed with Siniora about a possible "meeting in the near future," according to the statement.

Source: Xinhua