PARIS (AFP) - France said on Friday it regretted Lebanon’s decision to stay away from this year’s Paris book fair in protest at the invitation of Israel as guest of honour. "It is an extremely regrettable decision," foreign ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said. "This kind of event should remain open."

Lebanon on Wednesday announced a boycott of the March 14-19 event after organisers announced that 39 Israeli writers were being invited to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state.

The 50-nation Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISECSCO), had earlier called for a boycott of the event by Islamic states. "The crimes against humanity that Israel is perpetrating in the Palestinian territories... constitute, in themselves, a strong condemnation of Israel, making it unworthy of being welcomed as a guest of honour at an international book fair," the group said.

The Tunisian publishers’ union also Friday announced its refusal to take part in the Paris fair.

Twenty-five Egyptian groups have already said they would not attend, as has the Union of Algerian Writers, while Yemen’s Public Book Authority has said it would not participate at the request of the Arab League.