(Adds quotes)

WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Monday that extremists trying to topple Lebanon's government "need to be reined in."

As battles raged for a second day between the Lebanese army and al-Qaeda inspired militants, Bush told Reuters in an interview aboard Air Force One that he had been briefed on the situation by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"Extremists that are trying to topple that young democracy need to be reined in. Certainly we abhor the violence where innocents die. And it's a sad state of affairs when you've got this young democracy in Lebanon being pressured by outside forces," Bush said.

Bush, deeply distrustful of Syria's role in Lebanon, stopped short of accusing Damascus of being involved in the conflict. Syria has denied accusations that it had links to the Fatah al-Islam group battling the Lebanese army.

"I don't know about this particular incident. I'll be guarded on making accusations until I get better information, but I will tell you there's no doubt that Syria was deeply involved in Lebanon. There's no question they're still involved in Lebanon," he said.

AlertNet news is provided by