Report: Juppe Asked Miqati not to Reject ‘Friends of Syria’ Group

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has reportedly asked Premier Najib Miqati that Lebanon not reject a proposal made by his country to form a "Friends of Syria" group.

During a meeting they held in Paris on Friday, Juppe said Lebanon shouldn’t reject the idea during the meeting of Arab League foreign ministers that will be held in Cairo on Sunday, French official sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

The group will reportedly explore ways to further isolate Syrian President Bashar Assad, support his foes and end the deadly crackdown on protestors by the regime's forces.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed creating the group after Moscow and China vetoed on February 4 a draft U.N. Security Council resolution condemning the violence.

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, who will attend the Cairo meeting, said in remarks published Sunday that Lebanon will continue to steer itself clear of the events in Syria.

But stressed that he won’t remain silent if the Arab League takes a decision that could cause a further deterioration in Syria’s security situation.

Diplomatic sources have said that the League is expected to launch the "Friends of Syria" coalition during Sunday’s meeting and appoint a special envoy to the strife-torn country.