BEIRUT, Lebanon, August 25, SPA -- France's foreign minister has heldtalks with leaders in Lebanon during a brief stopover onhis way to Syria _ his first visit there since Beirut andDamascus agreed to establish diplomatic relations earlierthis month. After discussions on Monday with the Lebanese president,prime minister and parliament speaker, Bernard Kouchnersaid the situation in Beirut has «improved» since anational unity government was formed following anArab-brokered agreement in May that ended Lebanon's worstcrisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war, the Associated Press reported. Kouchner also said he will talk with Syrian PresidentBashar Assad in Damascus, ahead of a visit to Syria by theFrench president planned for early next month.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/584740