Hollande says France will not put troops on ground in Syria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday France will not put troops on the ground in Syria to fight Islamic State, even as he called for stepped-up strikes and coordination against the group. "France will not intervene militarily on the ground," Hollande said at a White House news conference with U.S. President Barack Obama. Hollande would not provide a date for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's transition from power but said it must be "as soon as possible." (Reporting by Jeff Mason, Julia Edwards and Roberta Rampton; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Bill Trott)