France ups pressure on Lebanese officials to form a government
France is exerting pressure on Lebanese officials to form a new government as the Arab nation faces increasing political and economic crises. On Monday, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian held telephonic conversations with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, acting Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, urging them to immediately halt the “deliberate obstruction” in the formation of the government. He called out the officials for seven months of political deadlock that has resulted in an unprecedented economic crisis in the country. “The deliberate obstruction of any prospect of an exit from the crisis by demands that are unreasonable and out-of-date must immediately halt. The time has come to strengthen pressure to end the blockage," Jean-Yves Le Drian said as per a statement issued by the French Foreign Minister's Office. France has also warned Lebanese officials that the European Union is exploring ways to "strengthen the pressure on tho...