Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Star

Monday, July 31, 2006
French FM in Beirut to discuss Lebanon conflict
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

BEIRUT, July 31, 2006 (AFP) - French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy arrived in Beirut on Monday to hold talks with Lebanese leaders over Israel's devastating war on Hezbollah, a French diplomatic source told AFP.
Douste-Blazy, whose country holds the current presidency of the UN Security Council, is due to meet with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallukh, the source said.

France on Sunday claimed the initiative in international efforts to bring peace to Lebanon, distancing itself from the United States, a day after issuing a draft UN Security Council resolution on measures to end the fighting.

His visit comes amid international condemnation of an Israeli raid in the village of Qana in southern Lebanon which killed 52 people, including 30 children, on Sunday.

It was Douste-Blazy's third visit to Lebanon since Israel launched a military offensive on its northern neighbor after the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers at the borders on July 12 to secure a prisoners' exchange.

In an interview on Monday, Douste-Blazy said he was "going to Beirut... to hold talks with the Lebanese government, back its action and see how we can immediately suspend offensive operations and find the conditions for a sustainable political agreement." Also Monday, French warship Jean de Vienne arrived at the Beirut port with nine tonnes of medicines and 15 tonnes of food and sanitary items to help alleviate the ordeal of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese displaced by the conflict, an embassy statement said.-AFP

Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Star