France seeks US pressure on Israeli Lebanon flights

PARIS, Nov 10 (Reuters) France today said it hoped the United States would put pressure on Israel to end military flights over Lebanon, after French peacekeepers nearly launched missiles at Israeli jets flying in an attack mode.

''This message must be sent by France and other countries, and also the UN ... We hope the Americans can send the same type of message to the Israelis,'' Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told reporters at a news briefing.

On Wednesday Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said French troops participating in the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in Lebanon almost launched missiles at Israeli warplanes which had flown in an attack mode above their position on October 31.

Daniel Shek, the Israeli ambassador to France, on Thursday denied that Israeli jets had acted aggressively toward the French forces, calling Franco-Israeli relations 'very good'.

He described the flights over Lebanon as necessary reconnaissance missions designed to interdict resupply of Hezbollah fighters since a month of combat ended on August 14.

Earlier in the briefing, Mattei had said France was satisfied Israel would be able to explain the October 31 fly-by.

''The ambassador took note yesterday of what the minister said, and I think he has made a commitment to provide us with a certain number of clarifications,'' he said.

Reuters SB GC2302