Khaddam Asked Hariri’s Help for a French Cover

The former Syrian Vice President, Abdul Halim Khaddam is trying to extract a French political cover in a move to repeat the experience of the Transitional Council in Libya.

The sources informed "al-Akhbar" newspaper that Khaddam continues contact with the French Foreign Ministry in order to assist him in convening opposition figures meetings, some of whom were in the Salvation Front formed by Khaddam in cooperation with the Muslim Brotherhood, to be based in Paris.

According to sources, Khaddam requested support from former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to arrange appointments with a number of French officials, and to visit the Elysee Palace to meet with Sarkozy or any other official in an attempt to offer his idea.

The sources said that Hariri instructed his lawyer Basil Yared, who has a strong relationship with French officials, to work on this issue.

However, the sources pointed out that the French embassy in Damascus has warned repeatedly to deal with Khaddam as a possible alternative to President Bashar al-Assad, noting he is not genuinely popular, even in his hometown, and that what he worked on earlier in order to grab the support of senior officers or officials of the Baath Party did not come to any conclusion.