Sarkozy holds talks with Al Assad

Damascus: Syrian President Bashar Al Assad on Thursday met President Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of expected indictments by the UN tribunal that could trigger new violence in Lebanon.

Diplomats said Sarkozy had presented proposals at talks with Al Assad on how Lebanon's politicians should deal with the indictments over the 2005 killing of the then prime minister Rafik Hariri.

"Sarkozy is desperate for a foreign policy success and he will present some ideas to [Al] Assad," one diplomat said. "The French have been keen on breaking Syria's isolation because they believe that [Al] Assad can be crucial to Lebanon's stability".

Indictments

Western diplomats and Lebanese political sources say they expect the indictments to name members of the Syrian and Iranian-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah. The group denies any involvement in the Hariri killing and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said he will not allow the arrest of any of its members.

He has called on the Lebanese Prime Minister, Sa'ad Hariri, Rafik's son and an ally of Saudi Arabia and the West, to repudiate the tribunal.

Some Lebanese politicians have warned of a possible relapse into violence when the indictments are issued.