Hollande, al-Rahi to Discuss Baabda Crisis this Month

Lebanon's presidential deadlock will top the agenda of talks that are expected to be held between French President Francois Holland and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi this month, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.

The daily said al-Rahi will travel to Paris in the second half of April for the inauguration of Europe's Maronite Diocese in the the down of Meudon in the French capital's suburbs.

But the patriarch will benefit from his presence in France to hold talks with top officials, including Hollande, it said.

Their meeting is expected to focus on the vacuum at Baabda Palace that was caused by the differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances.

On Thursday, Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned for the 21st time the session to elect a new head of state over lack of quorum.

The upcoming session was set for April 22.

France is currently the only Western country that is trying to solve the deadlock, said al-Akhbar.

A French presidential envoy has been lately involved in a shuttle diplomacy. But he has so far failed to achieve results.