George Mitchell, the United States envoy to the Middle East, has met with the French president after completing his first round of regional meetings in which he is aiming to revive peace talks in the troubled area.

The 75-year-old former US senator arrived in Paris after ending a tour of countries that included talks in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

French officials said they were keen to find out how the new US government plans to bring the Gaza crisis to an end and revive Israeli-Arab peace talks.

Mitchell has said Washington is committed to "actively and aggressively" seeking lasting peace in the region, but has also warned that there would be further setbacks.

His meeting with the French leader was followed by a working lunch with Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister.

He is due to travel to London later on Monday to brief the British government on his first round of meetings.

Sarkozy was also due to hold talks with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president on Monday.

Abbas is touring Europe this week to discuss reconstruction efforts in Gaza, following the 22-day Israeli offensive that left 1,330 dead.

The French president is also expected to meet with Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, whose country negotiated a peace accord between Lebanon's rival factions in May 2008.