Gemayel meets Le Drian, says state can't be built unless Hezbollah disarms

French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian met Wednesday with Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil and Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel.

Gemayel urged after the meeting a road map for the disarmament of Hezbollah, adding that a state cannot be built unless illegal weapons are handed over - a request Hezbollah said will not do as long as Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon and the Israeli air force regularly violates Lebanese air space.

MTV said that Le Drian warned in his meeting with Bassil that an international conference in support of Lebanon will not be held if the Lebanese state fails to "fulfill its duties".

On Tuesday, Le Drian met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and left without giving a statement.

Le Drian's visit aims to "continue discussions with Lebanese officials on subjects of common interest, particularly reforms and reconstruction," French ambassador Hervé Magro said, while pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported Wednesday that the French diplomat discussed with the Lebanese leaders the need to implement reforms and negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for the reconstruction of war-hit regions.