France cuts off Syrian talks

FRANCE is cutting off talks with Syria until Damascus shows its willingness to let Lebanon elect a new president, said French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Lebanon’s Western- backed government and pro-Syrian opposition have been unable to break a deadlock over filling the presidential post, empty for a month, and many Western countries have accused Damascus of interfering in the process — a claim Syria denies.

“I will not have any more contact with the Syrians until... we have received proof of Syria’s intention to let Lebanon designate a president of consensus,” said Mr Sarkozy in Cairo after meeting with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.