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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| France fears new war in Lebanon | France fears new war in Lebanon |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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 is in Lebanon, meeting representatives of rival factions in an effort to break the months of political deadlock in the country. | Mr Kouchner is in Lebanon, meeting representatives of rival factions in an effort to break the months of political deadlock in the country. |
| He spoke after meeting pro-Western PM Fouad Siniora and Nabih Berri, the pro-Syrian parliamentary leader. | He spoke after meeting pro-Western PM Fouad Siniora and Nabih Berri, the pro-Syrian parliamentary leader. |
| Mr Kouchner later held talks with Hezbollah, which leads the opposition. | |
| His two-day visit is a follow-up to a conference France hosted earlier this month. | 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. |
| 'Necessary dialogue' | '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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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 government | Unity 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |