Lebanese FM, PLO political department chief review ME developments

Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz on Tuesday in Beirut met with the head of the PLO political department, Farouk al-Qaddoumi. In a statement following the meeting, Boueiz said discussions dealt with the halted peace process on the Syrian track.

He said the situation in Iraq was reviewed, stressing Lebanon's stand advocating a diplomatic solution and rejecting any military strike against Iraq. He called upon the UN secretary-general to head to Iraq to disclose claims raised to justify any military action against Iraq.

Qaddoumi said he reviewed with Boueiz what has happened on the Palestinian peace track, which has reached an impasse. He added that the peace process sponsors are unable to make the efforts needed to revive the peace process in the region. Concerning the Iraqi crisis, al-Qaddoumi said the UN is responsible for dealing with such a crisis rather then the US.

He indicated that only the UN is entitled to settle the crisis, calling on the UN

secretary-general to proceed in his mission.