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French leader goes to Mideast for Gaza peace push

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-05 17:24

PARIS -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office says he has left for the Middle East to meet with Israeli, Palestinian and other regional leaders in a push to end the fighting in Gaza.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) says goodbye to Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris January 1, 2009. [Agencies]

Sarkozy's two-day trip starts in Sharm el-Sheikh with lunch with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The French leader then goes to Ramallah for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and to Jerusalem to see Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Sarkozy will also go to Syria and Lebanon.

His office says he is seeking "paths for peace" in Gaza. France has been active in diplomatic efforts toward a cease-fire.

Sarkozy has condemned Israel's use of ground troops but also blamed Hamas for causing Palestinian suffering with rocket fire that led to the Israeli offensive.