'Lenghty' vacuum expected despite Paris bid to 'convince Riyadh' with Hezbollah role
The presidential vacuum will be lengthy despite the "intensity" of the French efforts and attempts by Paris, backed by Washington, Riyadh and some local forces, to reach a "compromise candidate called Joseph Aoun," al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Saturday.
It added that France is trying to convince Riyadh that it is "impossible to bypass Hezbollah in the presidential file" and that "negotiations with it are obligatory regarding any supposed settlement that Saudi Arabia wants, even if it revolves around the army chief."
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