U.S. official Leaf meets Bou Saab, Lebanese MPs in Washington

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf met Friday with deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab and other Lebanese MPs in Washington.

The meeting discussed the need to elect a president and prevent an all-out war in Lebanon.

Leaf stressed in the meeting that although the five-nation group is seeking to help Lebanon in finding a solution to its political crisis, an inter-Lebanese solution and agreement are needed.

"The solution in the end is the responsibility of the Lebanese themselves," Leaf said.

Crisis-hit Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October last year, with neither of the two main blocs -- Hezbollah and its opponents -- having the majority required to elect one.

The international community and the five-nation group -- which comprises the U.S., France, KSA, Qatar and Egypt -- have long urged Lebanese leaders to end months of political wrangling and stem the financial meltdown.