PARIS, Aug 7 (Xinhua) -- France condemned Monday the arrest of the speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Aziz Dweik, by Israel over the weekend, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau said.

    "This arrest, which added to previous arrest of deputies and members of the Palestinian government since June 29, is not likely to favor the appeasement of the current crisis. France reiterates its call for their release," said the spokesman.

    Israeli troops stormed the residence of Dweik and arrested him late Saturday night from his home in Ramallah.

    Dweik was elected speaker in February after the Hamas won parliamentary elections. Enditem