France on Wednesday denounced President Bashar al-Assad's appointment of a new prime minister as a "masquerade" that does not meet the demands of the Syrian people or the international community.

"Bashar al-Assad remains stubbornly deaf to the demands of his people" and the move "does not meet the expectations of the Syrian people or the international community," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.

"It is urgent that the regime stop massacring its people and commit to applying Kofi Annan's peace plan," Valero told a press conference, in reference to the joint United Nations-Arab League envoy for Syria.