France on Wednesday denounced President Bashar al-Assad's appointment of a new prime minister as a "masquerade" that does not meet the demands of the Syrian people or the international community.

"Bashar al-Assad remains stubbornly deaf to the demands of his people" and the move "does not meet the expectations of the Syrian people or the international community," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.

Syria's government declared on Tuesday that the ambassadors and staff of several Western countries as well as Turkey were personae non gratae.

"Some states recently informed heads of our diplomatic missions and embassy staff that they are unwelcome," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding Syria was now designating the ambassadors of the United States, Britain, France and Turkey, among others, as personae non gratae.

French health authorities said Monday that nearly 8,000 French women had followed a government recommendation to have faulty breast implants that sparked a global health scare removed.

The ANSM health product and drug safety agency said that, as of the end of April, 7,868 women had the implants produced by Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) removed, after French authorities warned they were more prone to rupture.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius condemned Monday the deadly clashes that erupted this weekend in the northern city of Tripoli, calling on Lebanese leaderships to "show the spirit of responsibility in this troubled situation.”

In a statement issued by the French Foreign Ministry, Fabius condemned the violence that killed 15 and left dozens injured, praising the “perfect role practiced by the Lebanese Army and security forces, which should be the exclusive owner of weapons in Lebanon.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will for the first time meet French President Francois Hollande when he visits Paris later this week, his spokesman said on Monday.

"President Abbas will visit France on June 8 and will meet with French President Francois Hollande," Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.

President Bashar Assad said Sunday that his government faces a foreign plot to destroy Syria, and blamed "monsters" for the Houla massacre, in a rare televised speech delivered in parliament.

Assad's accusations came as Arab leaders called on the United Nations to act to stop bloodshed in Syria and France raised the prospect of military action against Damascus under a U.N. mandate.

French nationals living on the American continents began voting Saturday in legislative elections that the Socialist Party of newly-elected President Francois Hollande must win so as to make good on his election promises.

A short queue formed outside the French Consulate here at 8:00 am (11:00 GMT) as the polls opened for French citizens living in Brazil.

Franck Ribery will have an integral part to play for France at Euro 2012, as "Les Bleus" seek to erase the painful memories of an inept display at the last World Cup in South Africa.

This past season saw 29-year-old Ribery enjoy his best campaign since joining Bayern Munich from Marseille in 2007 but the winger has struggled desperately to replicate his club form on the international stage.

French President Francois Hollande said Friday that no solution is possible in Syria without "the departure of Bashar Assad.”

He spoke at a press conference with Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Colombian rebels on Wednesday freed a French journalist kidnapped 33 days ago, releasing him in a remote jungle village in a move the French president hailed as a "happy end."

"Apart from the fact that I was held for a month, everything went very well. I cannot complain," France 24 correspondent Romeo Langlois told reporters after arriving in the hamlet of San Isidro with a group of rebels.