BEIRUT - Lebanon's ruling bloc accused Damascus on Friday of "flagrant interference" in its affairs after the Syrian president urged his Lebanese counterpart to send troops to the north to quell sectarian
fighting.

"The words of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about what he requested from President Michel Sleiman... is flagrant interference in internal Lebanese affairs," the statement from the Western-backed ruling coalition said.

"This comes from a lack of recognition of Lebanon's sovereignty and independence," it added.

Assad said on Thursday he had asked Sleiman, who visited Damascus in August, to urgently send more troops to northern Lebanon to combat what he called "extremism."

At least 23 people have been killed since violence erupted in May in the northern port city of Tripoli between backers of the Lebanese opposition led by the Shiite movement Hezbollah and Sunni supporters of the anti-Syrian majority.

Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon in 2005 after three decades of military and political domination of its smaller neighbour following the assassination of former billionaire premier Rafiq Hariri but continues to wield influence thourgh its allies in Beirut.