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Chirac huddles with key ministers on Lebanon crisis
AFP
TOULON, France
Petroleumworld.com 08 09 06
President Jacques Chirac gathered with key ministers Wednesday in southern France to discuss French efforts to win support for a UN ceasefire resolution to end the Lebanon conflict.
Chirac broke off his vacation at a nearby presidential retreat to chair the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy.
The president arrived by helicopter in the southeastern port of Toulon at 11:00 am (0900 GMT).
Officials at the presidency said the meeting, to be followed by a press conference by Chirac, would "review the situation in Lebanon and diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire."
France and the United States are working on a new version of a draft resolution at the United Nations -- after Lebanon and Arab states objected to a first text -- and hope to see it adopted by the end of the week.
One Elysee official said France intended to "use all its weight to try to get things moving."
AFP 09 0930 GMT 08 06
Copyright ©2006 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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