French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner threatened Monday to expose the parties that are hampering a Paris initiative to facilitate Lebanese Presidential elections, pointing an accusing finger at forces "outside" Lebanon, in an apparent reference to Syria and Iran.
Kouchner, talking to reporters after meeting parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri, said: "I want to know who is hampering and who is responsible for this. France will announce to the whole world" the side that is responsible for this situation.

"Judging by my experience, some of the parties should shoulder their responsibility, all the parties should shoulder their responsibilities, including (parties) outside the country," he added.

In answering a question as to whether Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun is hampering efforts to reach consensus on a presidential candidate, Kouchner said: I don't think that he, alone, is responsible."

"The party that is responsible for hampering a mechanism that had been agreed by all sides will be responsible for destabilizing Lebanon and its regional repercussions," Kouchner added.

He recalled that all the sides had agreed to the French initiative, in line with which Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir was asked to propose a list of candidates, which he did.

Hariri, on his part, renewed support for Sfeir, noting that "today, we could be facing an impasse or efforts to hamper" the election of a new head of state to succeed Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud,
Whose extended term in office expires at midnight Friday.

Hariri stressed that "Lebanon's stability and interests should be more important than all of us. The Lebanese people and their stability are more important than Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt, Hassan Nasrallah, Michel Aoun, Samir Geagea and others."

Efforts by France and "Lebanon's friends are aimed at safeguarding Lebanon's interests and stability," Hariri added.

Kouchner, who arrived in Beirut on Sunday evening in a fresh bid to salvage the nation's controversial presidential elections, also held talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, after which he served a warning that "whoever blocks this election process would be held responsible."

"We still have two more days and we will keep working," he told reporters.

He was referring to a parliamentary session scheduled for Wednesday to elect a president, two days before Lahoud's term expires.