PARIS, May 23 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will travel to Lebanon this week after a surge in violence in the former French protectorate, his ministry said on Wednesday, Kouchner's first trip outside Europe in his new job.

Kouchner, whose visit follows the worst outbreak of violence in Lebanon since the 1975-1999 civil war, will meet Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and senior officials on Thursday and Friday, the ministry said in a statement.

"The aim of his visit is to reaffirm France's solidarity with Lebanon and with its population in this critical period, and to reaffirm the importance we attach to the independence, sovereignty and stability of this country," it said.

At least 22 militants, 32 soldiers and 27 civilians have been killed in fighting between al Qaeda-inspired militants and the Lebanese army which initially erupted in both the port city of Tripoli and the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, home to 40,000 Palestinians.

Thousands of Palestinians fled the badly damaged refugee camp on Wednesday after a fragile truce halted the fighting, which began on Sunday.

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