French President Sarkozy arrives in Beirut for official visit
French President Nicholas Sarkozy arrived in Beirut on Saturday accompanied by Prime Minister Francois Fillon and French party leaders for meetings with newly elected Lebanese President Michel Sleiman.
Sarkozy arrived at 10:15 am (0715 GMT) at Beirut”s airport and was received by his counterpart Sleiman, who was elected on May 25 after a months-long void in the presidency, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Sarkozy is the first Western head of state to visit the country since Sleiman took office.
Fillon, who arrived earlier in the day, was greeted by Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
Along with Fillon, the large French delegation includes Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Defence Minister Herve Morin as well as leaders of France”s major political parties.
The airport road was decorated with French and Lebanese flags for the hours-long visit.
The delegation is set to meet with leaders of 14 Lebanese political parties including Hezbollah.
The Lebanese political crisis between the anti-Syrian ruling bloc, backed by the West and most Arab states, and the Hezbollah-led opposition, supported by Syria and Iran, degenerated into sectarian violence that left 65 dead last month.
The two camps finally sealed a deal in Qatar on May 21 which led to the election of then army chief and consensus candidate Sleiman.