Following his contacts with Israeli and Palestinian officials, Sarkozy continues his Middle East tour in Syria to seek ways to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Sarkozy held talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad and asked Syria to step in.
France asked for help from Syria to convince Hamas to cooperate with international efforts to end the Israeli assault in the Gaza Strip.
Sarkozy called for an immediate ceasefire and stated that immediate humanitarian aid should be sent to Gaza. The French President said at a joint press conference held after the talks, that he knew Syria's importance and influence in the region and he was sure Syria would persuade everyone to act in a logical way.
Calling the Israeli offensive in Gaza a war crime, Assad called for a ceasefire but also stressed the need for an end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Sarkozy has left Damascus for Lebanese capital Beirut, where he will meet Michel Suleiman.
