Sarkozy returns to Egypt in Mideast peace mission

Source: Xinhua | 01-07-2009 11:02

BEIRUT, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy returned to Egypt on Tuesday for further talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the situation in Gaza after a brief visit to Lebanon.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets with  visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the  presidential office in the West Bank city of Ramallah  on Jan. 5, 2009. Nicolas Sarkozy urged here Monday  evening an end to the warfare in Gaza.(Xinhua File Photo)

"I will be heading back to Sharm el-Sheikh later today to continue talks with President Hosni Mubarak ... I believe Egypt will play a vital role regarding the situation in Gaza," Sarkozy told the press after his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.

Sarkozy arrived in Beirut from Damascus along with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU envoy on the Middle East peace process Marc Otte earlier on Tuesday.

During his brief stay, he met separately with President Suleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Seniora, and discussed with them the serious situation of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and efforts made so far to stop the Israeli military action there.

President Suleiman urged France to press Israel to stop the "barbarous" military operation in Gaza and the killing of Palestinians.

He also called for French influence to stop the Israeli menace to Lebanon, which he said had seriously affected the peace, stability and economic development of his country, according to a statement released by the president's office.

Sarkozy is currently on a Middle East tour in a bid to seek a ceasefire in Gaza, which has taken him to Egypt, Israel, the West Bank and Syria.

Israel launched air strikes against Gaza on Dec. 27 and ground operations on Jan. 3 in retaliation for rocket attacks by Hamas militants against Israel. At least 590 Palestinians have been killed and some 2,700 others wounded in the Israeli attacks.

Editor:Zhang Yun