Lebanese rival parties meeting in France

Paris - Rival Lebanese factions gathered Saturday in a castle outside Paris in an attempt to resolve the long-standing civil conflict. Representatives from 14 parties, including the radical Islamic group Hezbollah, sat down for informal talks at the chateau at La- Celle-Saint-Cloud, southwest of the French capital, that were scheduled to go through Sunday. The meeting was initiated by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who is moderating the talks. While there is no formal agenda, subjects almost certain to be discussed include the establishment of a government of national unity and the presidential elections scheduled for autumn. Hezbollah agreed to take part in the conference despite being branded a 'terrorist' organization by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. However, in an interview published Saturday in the French daily Le Figaro, the head of Hezbollah's delegation to the talks, Mohammad Fneich, said the meeting 'could create a positive climate and open a path to an eventual solution' to the conflict. The discussions are taking place as violence continues in Lebanon. On Saturday, Lebanese troops for the third consecutive day shelled a refugee camp in northern Lebanon where al Qaeda-inspired militants are holed up. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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