France says ready to help implement Lebanon-Israel deal

France has said that it is "ready to contribute" to the framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel, adding it should pave the way for the full restoration of Lebanese sovereignty.

The agreement was signed in Washington on Friday after five rounds of talks, and it includes a process aimed at disarming Hezbollah.

But Hezbollah's leader Sheikh Naim Qassem has rejected the agreement, accusing the Lebanese government of surrendering sovereignty.

"Committed to the security of Israel as well as that of Lebanon and engaged in maintaining peace in South Lebanon, France stands ready to contribute to the implementation of this framework agreement, and to the achievement of all these objectives," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It said the agreement must pave the way for the full restoration of Lebanese sovereignty.

It also backed the Lebanese government's "full monopoly on weapons" and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanese territory.

Lebanon was drawn into the war on March 2 after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in support of Iran.