Pieton: No intention to deploy French forces along Lebanese-Syrian border

French Ambassador Denis Pieton refuted on Friday allegations that French soldiers will be sent to north Lebanon, adding that there is no intention to deploy French forces along the northern Lebanese border with Syria.

Pieton added that reducing the number of French peacekeepers in the south to 900 is part of a U.N. decision and a strategic review of UNIFIL. “UNIFIL will still be able to fulfill its task regardless any decrease or increase in numbers”, he added during a tour in south Lebanon.

Earlier in the day, France's foreign minister said that the international community has to live up to its responsibilities in Syria and prepare for the possible failure of an increasingly fragile peace plan.     

Alain Juppe said on France's BFM television Friday that if special envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan "doesn't function, we have to envisage other methods."    

Juppe said France would support a U.S.-backed proposal for a U.N. arms embargo and other tough measures against Syria.     

He said this peace plan is "the last chance before civil war. ... We don't have the right to wait."     

Juppe hosted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other diplomats in Paris on Thursday to try to work out options for Syria.

AP/LBCI