France called for an end to the war of words between the United States and Syria over the latter's alleged support for the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein in neighbouring Iraq. But Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin stopped short of backing Syria's strong denial of the US accusations as he made a lighting visit to Damascus on the second leg of whirlwind Middle East tour.

"Now is the time for a display of responsibility, not for polemics," de Villepin told reporters when asked about the US charges at a joint news conference with his Syrian counterpart Faruq al-Shara.

Shara roundly rejected the US accusations that Damascus had provided a hiding place for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and supplied Saddam's army with military equipment to resist the three-week-old US-led invasion.

"The Americans know perfectly well that these accusations are without basis," the Syrian minister said.

"They have found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. How can the Americans accuse Syria of having what they can't find on Iraqi territory?"

The sole Arab member of the UN Security Council, Syria supported the resolution, which established a tough new disarmament regime for Iraq last November, but was later, like France, an outspoken critic of US-led war plans.

De Villepin, who earlier met President Bashar al-Assad, said France believed Syria had a "significant role to play" in any Iraq settlement. "That role should be one of responsibility and moderation," he said.

The French foreign minister later left for Beirut where he is to hold talks with Lebanese officials Sunday before heading on to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier in Cairo, he called on the US-led coalition to do more to rein in the lawlessness that has gripped Iraqi cities since the entry of coalition troops into the capital Wednesday.

Arabs Urged to Keep the 'Faith'

In a speech at a Cairo international affairs institute, De Villepin urged Arabs to "keep the faith," vowing the international community was "more than ever ready to mobilize" in support of a comprehensive peace for the region.

"I know how great is the feeling of pain and injustice felt today by the Arab world," he said, in response to widespread anger in the region that the United States invaded Iraq over its violation of UN resolutions while doing nothing about Israel's.

The French foreign minister outlined five steps to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, inspired in large part by the so-called roadmap drawn up by the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States.

First, the blueprint must be published and enacted without delay, followed by a truce between the two sides, which France was prepared to help enforce on the ground.

A referendum could extend that truce, assuming Israelis and Palestinians "reaffirmed the choice of peace".

Palestinian public services would take more responsibility for daily operations in the third step, assisted if needed by the international community.

De Villepin proposed that an international presence on the ground be considered "in accord with the parties".

The fourth step would be a conference which France was prepared to host to conclude a "peace of the brave".

Finally, the proclamation of a Palestinian state would constitute the last part of the process.

All Arab countries would have to accept Israel, while Israelis would have to "accept the other, in spite of the dramas," de Villepin said in a reference to continuing violence in both Israel and the occupied territories.

PHOTO CAPTION

This picture released by the Syrian news agency (SANA) shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) meeting with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin in Damascus. (AFP-SANA)