Junblat meets Annan in New York

The leader of the Lebanese Socialist Progressive Party, Walid Junblat, met in New York with the secretary general of the UN, Kofi Annan, during the visit made by Junblat to the USA.

A spokesman for the UN said that Annan listened to views made by Junblat on the current situation of Lebanon, noting that Annan "is interested in hearing his view point."

Junblat stressed his rejection to accept a middle solution according to which President Emile Lahoud would resign for permitting Hizbullah to keep its weapons.

He said after meeting with the US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice that the discussions concerning Lahoud reached a deadlock because of the differences over dismantling Hizbullah party weapons.

Junblat has take a strong and public position against Syria over what he sees as Syrian acts and interference in Lebanon.

Junblat also said that if the dialogue process faces a deadlock he will be obliged to resort to the street, noting that he is seeking American support to intensify pressure on Syria to accept the departure of Lahoud, describing him as a puppet of Syria.