DAMASCUS, Jan 6 (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy asked Syria on Tuesday to help convince Hamas to cooperate in international efforts to end the Israeli assault in the Gaza Strip.

Without naming the Palestinian Islamist group, Sarkozy said that he "didn't have any doubt" that Syria would help convince Hamas to agree to a deal.

Sarkozy was speaking after a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Syria, along with Iran, is a main backer of Hamas.

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