French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned Saturday of the danger of violence if the eight-month crisis between Lebanon's political parties is not solved through negotiations. "The Lebanon dialogue can continue, and I think today has seen some progress," he told reporters after meeting the pro-Syrian opposition speaker of parliament, Nabih Berri.
"But that does not mean everything has been settled …If the Lebanese do not resume this necessary dialogue, unfortunately there will be more war," Kouchner warned, according to AFP.
"There are clans, struggles, sorts of poker games over power... but this is a deadly game in Lebanon," he said.
Kouchner met civil representatives before meeting Berri and then had lunch with Prime Minister Fouad Saniora. "I know that deep down, everyone in Lebanon wants reconciliation... maybe not the politicians, maybe not those who seize power and want to keep it... but civil society has had enough of war," Kouchner said.
