PARIS, May 11, 2008 (AFP) - President Nicolas Sarkozy underlined French support for Lebanon's embattled "legitimate government" in a telephone call Sunday to its prime minister Fuad Siniora, the Elysee Palace said.

In a statement, the presidential residence added that Sarkozy also rang Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to discuss the crisis in Lebanon after five days of fighting between supporters of the Western-backed ruling coalition in Beirut and the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Sarkozy "firmly condemns all armed action carried out in these recent days (and) calls for an unconditional halt to violence," said the statement that also "condemned all foreign interference in Lebanon".

It went on to stress "the support of France for Lebanon, the legitimate government of that country and its institutions responsible for security, who must be able to carry out their mission".

Sarkozy also called for an "immediate resumption of dialogue" under the auspices of the Arab League aimed at an outcome based on "respect for the democracy, independence, sovereignty and unity of Lebanon".