The French president is in Lebanon for a short visit to show support for the country amid ongoing violence in neighboring Syria. That violence has spilled across the border into Lebanon, and has been growing worse in recent months.

Francois Hollande arrived in Beirut Sunday where he held talks with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman.

The visit comes two weeks after a car bombing in Beirut that the opposition has blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and demanded Lebanon's prime minister resign, accusing the government of complicity with Damascus.

President Hollande goes to Saudi Arabia later in the day for talks with King Abdullah to discuss Syria.

Meanwhile, in Syria Sunday, state television says an explosion near a hotel in the capital, Damascus, has wounded several people.

The Syrian conflict is entering its 20th month and has caused the deaths of an estimated 36,000 people.

Hundreds of people were killed recently as the government has stepped up airstrikes against rebel-controlled areas.

Syrian activists say more than 4,500 people died last month.