Emergency Talks between Sarkozy, Qatari PM Cancel 'Contact Group' Meeting on Lebanon

Qatar and France agreed to cancel a meeting of the so-called "contact group" on Lebanon, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jaber al-Thani announced.

His statement came following talks in Paris late Thursday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The contact group was scheduled to hold its first meeting on Friday.

"Sarkozy and I agreed to cancel the International Contact Group meeting on Lebanon," Sheikh Hamad told reporters.

"The situation is not appropriate; and we ought to wait for the new government formation," he added.

While stressing that Qatar and France support Lebanon's stability, Sheikh Hamad respected the "democratic choice" that brought Hizbullah-backed wealthy businessman Najib Miqati to the position of prime minister.

"We want a meeting to support Lebanon's stability. There has been a democratic choice in Lebanon and we have to wait and see how the next government is going to deal with domestic and global issues," he explained.

Hamad acknowledged failure of Qatar-Turkey mediation efforts based on the Saudi-Syrian initiative. "For that reason, there is no need for a meeting tomorrow (Friday) as everybody is waiting to see how Najib Mikati's government is going to deal with the international tribunal."

France has called for the creation of an international "contact group" on Lebanon to negotiate a settlement to the country's political crisis over the international tribunal.

The contact group was to include Syria, Saudi Arabia, France, the U.S., Qatar, Turkey and possibly other countries with a stake in Lebanon.

The idea has been discussed in Paris between Sarkozy and outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri.