"It is his decision. We'll respect it," the ambassador curtly told CNN television.

The conference is scheduled for September, but a Defense Department spokeswoman could not immediately provide any specifics about Rumsfeld's move to block France from taking part in the gathering.

Levitte said that following a chill caused by France's refusal to support the US-led invasion of Iraq in the UN Security Council, bilateral relations have improved.

He attributed the progress mainly to a meeting between French President Jacques Chirac and his US counterpart, George W. Bush, earlier this month on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in Evian, France, where the two leaders decided to put their differences aside.

He said overall US-French military ties were also good.

"We have wonderful cooperation betweeen the US and French armies in the Balkans, in Afghanistan, where we have troops deployed in Kabul, where we have special forces deployed with yours on the border with Pakistan," Levitte said. "A few days ago, our troops helped 100 American citizens to get out of Liberia."

The ambassador said the US failure so far to find suspected Iraqi weapons of mass destruction had underscored the credibility of UN weapons inspections that, in his view, should now be used in Iran and North Korea.

"If we could deploy UN inspections in these two countries, it would be good news for you and for us," Levitte said.

WAR.WIRE