France supports the Lebanese government

France has expressed full support for the Lebanese government. This followed a meeting in Paris between the Lebanese prime minister Fouad Sinioura and the French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy

A French diplomatic source said that the French minister "was notified" about the Lebanese request to extend the mission of the UN investigation team into the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri until December 15, remarking that this matter is decided by the UN secretary General Kofi Annan.

During his visit to France, Sinoura is also to meet with his French peer Diminique De Villepin and the UN special envoy in Lebanon Terry Rod Larsen who is in charge of following up the implementation of UN resolution 1559 issued by the UN Security Council.

The Lebanese prime minister will also be meeting with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who will be also in Paris to discuss the issue of the Palestinian presence in Lebanon, especially the issue of the Palestinian weapons. This is after Beirut got Abbas's support to close military bases for organizations loyal to Syria located outside the refugees camps.