Middle Eastern leader and military issues spark tension on Bastille Day

Assad's back-to-back invitations from Sarkozy to the summit and the parade appear to have marked an end to Syria's diplomatic isolation in France.

But many in France are outraged that Assad — who stands accused of trampling human rights in his own country and facilitating violence and chaos in neighbouring Lebanon, a French ally — was invited to Bastille Day festivities.

Among them are groups representing France's veterans, who hold Syria responsible for the deaths of 58 French paratroopers in a 1983 bomb attack on a Beirut barracks housing peacekeepers.

Assad receives few invitations from the West, where the British-educated former eye surgeon is viewed as a pariah allied with Iran and a supporter of militant groups including Hamas and Hezbollah.

Syria is also accused of involvement in the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon, where disputes in Parliament between pro-Syrian politicians and the Western-backed government often threaten to spill out into violence in the streets.

Former French president Jacques Chirac — a close friend of Hariri's — bitterly condemned the welcome offered by Sarkozy, while the French opposition decried the inclusion of a dictator at a celebration of human rights.

"Their heart isn't in it," various newspapers reported before the parade, with the leftwing daily Libération calling it a "demonstration without banners". Sarkozy, who was once called France's "top cop" when he was minister of the interior, is known to have an excellent rapport with the police. But he has fallen out with the army, despite the increase in French troops to Afghanistan and France's presence on the international peacekeeping stage. Alongside Britain, France is the biggest military power in Europe.

Last night, Sarkozy made a last-minute speech to defence forces, intended to calm the atmosphere and assure soldiers of "all my esteem and friendship". But one officer told Le Parisien newspaper that morale was at its lowest ever "at four on a scale of one to ten, where seven would be worrying".

Former Colombian hostage  Ingrid  Betancourt has been  awarded with one of  the top French civilian award. She hold dual nationality of Colombia and France.

France has honoured the former hostage Ingrid Betancourt, who was rescued from Colombian rebels earlier this month.

An official announcement said Ms Betancourt has been appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

The decoration, one of France's highest civilian honours, will be formally presented to her by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 14 July, Bastille Day.