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France pursues Lebanon diplomacy France fears new war in Lebanon
(about 10 hours later)
The French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, has arrived in Lebanon as he continues to try to break the political deadlock in the country. The French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, has warned that Lebanon faces the danger of renewed war if there is not a resumption of political dialogue.
Mr Kouchner's visit is an effort to resolve tensions between supporters of Lebanon's Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, and the pro-Syrian opposition. Mr Kouchner is in Lebanon, meeting representatives of rival factions in an effort to break the months of political deadlock in the country.
It is a follow-up to a conference France hosted earlier this month. He spoke after meeting pro-Western PM Fouad Siniora and Nabih Berri, the pro-Syrian parliamentary leader.
Mr Kouchner will also hold talks with Hezbollah, which leads the opposition.
His two-day visit is a follow-up to a conference France hosted earlier this month.
So far, every attempt to bring Lebanon's feuding political factions to the table has failed.So far, every attempt to bring Lebanon's feuding political factions to the table has failed.
The two sides are still deeply divided, with tensions expected to escalate in the next few months over the appointment of a successor to the Christian and pro-Syrian President, Emile Lahoud. 'Necessary dialogue'
Mr Kouchner said some progress had been made in his talks, "but that does not mean everything has been settled. Far from it.
"If the Lebanese do not resume this necessary dialogue, unfortunately there will be more war."
Lebanese officials say Mr Kouchner suggested that the rival parties discuss electing a new president and forming a government of national unity.
The two sides are still deeply divided, with tensions expected to escalate in the next few months over the who succeeds the Christian and pro-Syrian President, Emile Lahoud, when his term expires later this year.
Unity governmentUnity government
Syria and Iran would like a president that supports their interests while the US and Europe are backing Prime Minister Siniora and his Western-leaning government, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Beirut.
Lebanon has been deadlocked since November when the Shia Hezbollah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, withdrew from the cabinet demanding a unity government in which it would have the power of veto.Lebanon has been deadlocked since November when the Shia Hezbollah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, withdrew from the cabinet demanding a unity government in which it would have the power of veto.
Mr Kouchner will spend the weekend talking to the political leaders of 14 Muslim and Christian factions.
The French have also been consulting several Arab countries concerned with the Lebanese crisis, including Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to try to find backing for a solution.The French have also been consulting several Arab countries concerned with the Lebanese crisis, including Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to try to find backing for a solution.
During the talks in Damascus the Syrians are said to have told the French a solution must begin with the formation of a unity government before any agreement on a new president can be found. During earlier talks the Syrians are said to have told the French a solution must begin with the formation of a unity government before any agreement on a new president can be found.
But the anti-Syrian Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has already signalled that changing the make-up of the government before electing the new president would make it much harder to find a compromise candidate. But the anti-Syrian Mr Siniora has already signalled that changing the make-up of the government before electing the new president would make it much harder to find a compromise candidate.
This weekend, Mr Kouchner is going to need all his diplomatic skills. Mr Kouchner is playing a patient game, says our correspondent, but the answers to Lebanon's problems may lie further afield, in Damascus, Washington and Tehran.