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French President Nicolas Sarkozy. (AP) Last update - 14:13 19/12/2007 Sarkozy gives Assad ultimatum on holding Lebanese elections By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Basher Assad, Lebanon  French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday called on Syria to push the Lebanese Parliament to appoint a new president by Saturday. Speaking to Syrian President Basher Assad by phone Wednesday, Sarkozy gave Assad an ultimatum, telling him to "use all your means and influence to bring this about. Don"t waste time with talk. I am expecting actions, and your last opportunity is Saturday." Sarkozy said he offered no diplomatic incentives to Syria in pushing for them to advance elections in Lebanon. Advertisement Lebanese elections are set for Saturday, December 22nd, after they were postponed nine times, mainly because of a lack of agreement between the different groups on a candidate. A tentative solution the crisis has been reached wherein the parliament will be required to allow (ret.) General Mishal Suleiman to run on the ballot. Sarkozy stated that only after this is done can deliberations over swearing in a new government can begun. The anti-Damascus governing coalition had previously opposed the nomination of Suleiman, who was appointed army chief when Syria controlled Lebanon and has good ties with Hezbollah. The presidency has been empty since Nov. 23 when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud's term ended. A series of parliamentary sessions called to elect his replacement have failed because there has been no agreement between the rivals on a candidate. Agreement on a new president would defuse Lebanon's worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. Fears of a return to violence have eased since last week with both sides seeking to contain rather than escalate their standoff. But the rivals have yet to agree on any of a number of possible compromise candidates, who must be Maronite Christians under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system. Related articles: Bush warns Syria not to interfere in Lebanese politics Top Lebanese army general, four others killed in blast near Beirut Lebanon delays presidential election for sixth time Sarkozy tells PM: Palestinian refugees will not return to Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us   Le Pen sentenced French rightist punished said Nazi occupation of France wasn't 'particularly inhumane'. World premiere Eran Riklis' new film 'Lemon Tree' offers a fresh look at the Middle Eastern conflict.   1.   Is there a Lebanon any more??? 13:39  |  Al 19/12/07   2.   Sarkozy 14:42  |  Nabil 19/12/07   3.   to Nabil 15:15  |  Uday 19/12/07   4.   #2 Nabil: Covering for the Murdering Syrians 15:22  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 19/12/07   5.   France Under Sarkosy is Going Up and Int`lly Shining 15:24  |  Joseph E . 19/12/07   6.   Sarkozy 15:42  |  John 19/12/07   7.   Syria - Lebanon 15:50  |  Chris 19/12/07   8.   The only Laic country... 15:54  |  Farid 19/12/07   9.   France Lebanon and Syria 16:50  |  Alex S. 19/12/07   10.   THIS IS VERY ODD 16:59  |  Ian 19/12/07   11.   To Ovadiah ben Avraham re Nabil 2 17:01  |  MiriaM 19/12/07   12.   Monsieur le Cocorico americain ! 17:04  |  France 19/12/07   13.   Why do we call it elections ? it is a nomination !! 17:19  |  Jack 19/12/07   14.   France should exert its control 17:21  |  Brod 19/12/07   15.   #5 Say Joseph 17:30  |  ballistic 19/12/07   16.   Ultimatums in general.... 17:51  |  Esther 19/02/08   17.   #14 Too late for that BS Brod 17:55  |  ballistic 19/12/07   18.   Ballistic #17 18:32  |  Brod 19/12/07   19.   #17 Come now Brod 18:56  |  ballistic 19/12/07   20.   WHAT WAS ASSAD`[S RESPONSE TO THIS POPINJAY`S ULTIMATUM? 19:56  |  JACKAL 19/12/07   21.   Nabil...Syria needs to get the hell out 19:30  |  Lynn 19/12/07   22.   YES!!!! Kudos to Sarkozy 19:32  |  Lynn 19/12/07   23.   # 17 bullistic 19:35  |  Lynn 19/12/07   24.   # 2 Nabil 20:16  |  Amram H 19/12/07   25.   I think Sarkozy forgot that the French empire fell a long time 20:32  |  Lulz 19/12/07   26.   Nabil & Sarkozy 17:16  |  Effendi Boutros 09/02/08   27.   Assad & Sarkozy 17:32  |  AbuShanb 09/02/08

Today Online Syria upgrades missiles thanks to Iranian support Responses: 374 Two Sderot homes hit in fresh Qassam rocket barrage Responses: 350 Palestinian PM: Peace deal with Israel 'unlikely' this year Responses: 151 Editorial: Open the Rafah crossing Responses: 152 B. Weinthal: Germany is the logical place to start embargo of Iran Responses: 109 Hamas confiscates humanitarian aid trucks sent to Gaza Responses: 109 Rosner's Domain McCain found a tool with which to woo conservative Republicans: Israel Why many Jewish men go beardless (WTR) New poll: Is it legitimate for Israel to cut electricity to Gaza? The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference More Headlines 18:28 Hamas: Don't rule out border breach in W. Bank 18:34 IAF strikes rocket squads in N. Gaza following Qassam barrage 16:14 U.K.: Gaza power cut risks harm in humanitarian situation 16:24 Israel complains to UN Security Council over rocket salvo 17:27 PA census: Nearly 4 million Palestinians live in W. Bank, Gaza, E. J'lem 07:26 France's Le Pen gets suspended jail term for comments on Nazi occupation 16:12 Mauritanian Pres.: Attack on Israeli Embassy won't harm ties 17:47 U.S.: Security forces for future Palestinian state will require $7b 16:32 Lebanon's presidential election postponed for 14th time 16:27 Israeli man hurt in Molotov cocktail attack on car in West Bank 07:32 Sources: Blair 'shocked' by Dichter fears of arrest in U.K. 07:28 New film 'Lemon Tree' offers fresh look at Mideast conflict 08:33 Grave near Kiev is reminder of 20th century's only blood libel Previous Editions Select Day 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan

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