Sarkozy: Syria respects Lebanon

L'AQUILLA, Italy, July 9 (UPI) -- The Syrian government is upholding its commitment to respect the sovereignty of Lebanon, the French president said at the G8 summit in Italy.

Lebanon is attempting to form its next government following the June 7 elections that brought the Western-backed March 14 coalition to power.

Syrian and French authorities have stated they would not interfere in Lebanese politics, stressing it is a matter strictly for lawmakers in Beirut to consider.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking on the sidelines of the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, said his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad had "kept (his) commitments" to Lebanon, the Lebanese Daily Star reports.

Lebanese Prime Minister-elect Saad Hariri had stressed earlier in the week that the development of the next government was an independent matter.

Walid Jumblatt, the leader of the opposition Progressive Socialist Party, has called for an "in depth" national dialogue to consider the formation of the next government. Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, however, maintained that the consultations for the next Cabinet were "confidential."

Observers of the Lebanese political climate have anticipated challenges for Lebanon in moving ahead with a new government, though Hariri has made repeated pledges that the matter would be resolved as quickly as possible.