Syria breaks ties with France
02/01/2008 14:20  - (SA)  

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Damascus - Syria will break off contacts with France on the political crisis in Lebanon, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem announced on Wednesday, responding to a similar gesture by Paris three days earlier.

"Syria has decided to cease Franco-Syrian co-operation on the Lebanese crisis," Muallem told a press conference in Damascus.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Sunday that Paris was suspending contacts with Syria until Damascus shows willingness to let Lebanon end its long-running political crisis and find a new president.

Muallem accused the French of trying to blame the failure of international efforts to resolve the crisis in neighbouring Lebanon on Syria and the Damascus-backed opposition in Beirut.

"We were surprised to learn of the comments of the French president during a press conference in Cairo in which he said Syria and the Lebanese opposition are responsible for the failure - despite Syria's efforts, which are well known to France, and the flexibility shown by the opposition to facilitate a consensual settlement."

- AFP

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