France's Chirac condemns Israel offensive in Lebanon

PARIS, July 14 (Reuters) French President Jacques Chirac today said Israel's offensive in Lebanon was ''completely disproportionate'' following the capture of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of eight more by Hizbollah guerrillas.

''One can ask oneself whether there isn't a sort of desire to destroy Lebanon,'' Chirac said in his traditional Bastille Day interview on French television.

''I find, honestly, like most Europeans, that the reactions are completely disproportionate,'' he said.

Chirac also condemned Hizbollah for attacking Israel and said the firing of rockets into the Jewish state was ''unacceptable''. He added: ''These people are totally irresponsible.'' Asked if he believed the Syrians and Iranians were helping Hamas and Hizbollah in the recent rise in violence against Israel, the French president said he did not believe the two groups ''could not have taken these initiatives alone''.

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