French envoy continues 'consultative' mission in Beirut

French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday met with MP and ex-presidential candidate Michel Mouawad, Kataeb party leader Sami Gemayel, and other Tajaddod and Kataeb MPs, as he continued his "consultative" mission to push for a solution to the country's presidential deadlock.

He had met on Thursday caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil, and Marada leader and presidential candidate Suleiman Franjieh, who called the encounter "positive and constructive".

Le Drian also met with a delegation from Hezbollah, a local media report said, including MP Mohammad Raad and Hezbollah's foreign relations official Ammar al-Mousawi.

On Wednesday, Le Drian held talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and is set to meet with Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun and other MPs.

Le Drian is a political heavyweight who served as foreign minister throughout President Emmanuel Macron's first mandate and previously as defense minister.

He was appointed France's special envoy to Lebanon earlier this month by Macron.