Syria has sharply criticized U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, after she said President Bashar al-Assad had “lost legitimacy.”

The state-run SANA news agency said Tuesday the government “vehemently denounces” Clinton's remarks. The news agency quotes an official who calls her comments “further evidence” of “blatant U.S. interference” in Syria's internal affairs.

On Monday, Clinton said Mr. Assad was “not indispensable.” She also said the U.S. had “nothing invested in him remaining in power.”

Her remarks were Washington's strongest condemnation yet of Mr. Assad since his forces began a violent crackdown on anti-government protests that began in March.

France also stepped up its criticism of Damascus Tuesday, and called for the U.N. Security Council to take action. Prime Minister Francois Fillon told Europe-1 radio that the council's “silence” on Syria had become untenable.

He also said with each passing day, it was becoming more difficult for Mr. Assad to remain in power.

On Monday, Syrian government loyalists mobbed the U.S. embassy compound in Damascus and protested in front of the French embassy.

The incidents took place after U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford and French Ambassador Eric Chevallier traveled to the flashpoint city of Hama last week to show solidarity with residents facing a military crackdown on dissent.

Meanwhile, Syria wrapped up a three-day session of a government-organized “national dialogue” on Tuesday. The state news agency says the participants issued a statement in which they said stability and a greater commitment to reforms are high priorities.

The statement says dialogue participants rejected foreign interference and said that dialogue is the only way to end Syria's political crisis.

Syria's main opposition groups did not participate in the talks.

Rights groups say Syrian security forces have killed at least 1,600 civilians during the crackdown, while the government blames the violence on terrorists and Islamists who it says have killed hundreds of security personnel.