Syria has reportedly warned France that unless Lebanon elects a consensus President under Damascus' terms bunker wars could take place.The daily An Nahar on Tuesday, citing sources in Paris, said the Syrian stand was conveyed by Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Sharaa to France's Middle East envoy Jean-Claude Cousseran during their meeting in Damascus on Sunday . An Nahar said Sharaa's stance was "inflexible" in view of some Lebanese parties that are demanding a simple majority vote. It said Sharaa indicated that this would not only lead to a presidential vacuum but to domestic disputes. "The (presidential election) issue should be resolved before it turns into bunker wars," parliamentary sources quoted France's Middle East envoy Jean-Claude Cousseran as summing up the Syrian stance.
The sources pointed out that Sharaa's stand came in contrast to announcements made publicly by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. Paris, nevertheless, remained "optimistic" that presidential election would take place within the constitutional framework, underlining U.S.' "positive reaction" with regard to France's position that calls for Lebanese national dialogue aimed at reaching a compromise President.