Syria Peace Envoy Brahimi Visits Lebanon

Posted October 17th, 2012 at 5:00 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

United Nations-Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has traveled to Syrian neighbor Lebanon to meet with officials on the latest leg of his regional tour seeking to find a solution to the 19-month crisis.

Brahimi was due to meet Wednesday with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the country's parliament speaker.

His earlier stops included Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran. Brahimi called earlier this week for Syrian ally Iran to help establish a cease-fire in Syria during the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, which begins next week.

Syria's state-run SANA news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi on Tuesday as saying Syria awaits the arrival of Brahimi and hopes the international envoy's meetings will contribute to the success of a “constructive initiative.”

A cease-fire brokered by Brahimi's predecessor, former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, fell apart shortly after it took effect in April.