Syria’s foreign minister, Abdel Halim Khaddam, left Beirut after a surprise two-day visit that was seen as capping efforts to restore peace in southern Lebanon. The visit coincided with a flurry of consultations between Lebanese and Palestinian leaders, indicating that a peace plan could be implemented in the volatile region near the Israeli border this week.
Palestianian along with leftist Lebanese forces, continued fighting there with Israeli-backed rightists after the civil war ended elsewhere in Lebanon almost a year ago.
Khaddam, who survived an apparent assassination attempt last Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, held “positive” talks with Lebanese leaders, a statement said.
