"We are following the events in Lebanon and felt that the country was on the verge of civil war," the German minister said after meeting President Michel Suleiman. "We express our appreciation to the efforts by the Arab League over Lebanon and German citizen in Afghanistan held by US released ...
Merkel appeals to all sides for trade sacrifices ...
More Arab leaders boycott summit ... the Doha Agreement is considered an important step towards a solution," he said.
Steinmeier stressed that neighboring Syria should "recognize Lebanon's independence" from now on.
The Doha accord ended six days of bloody clashes between followers of the opposition led by Hezbollah and supporters of the Western-backed majority in which 82 people died.
Syria has been accused by the West and some Arab countries of meddling in Lebanese internal affairs through its main ally Hezbollah.
Syria was Lebanon's main powerbroker for 30 years.
The international and local outcry after former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in 2005 -- for which Syria was widely blamed -- led Damascus to end in 2005 its 30-year military presence in Lebanon. Since then, ties between the two countries have been tense.
Steinmeier was scheduled to hold talks later with House Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Fouad Seniora before heading on to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
(Deutsche Welle)
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