PARIS (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister expressed alarm on Wednesday over the crisis in Lebanon and said social discontent could lead to an escalation in violence.
“The situation is alarming, with an economic, financial, social and humanitarian crisis now reinforced by the risks of the coronavirus,” Jean-Yves Le Drian told a parliamentary hearing.
“The worsening social crisis … risks increasing the risk of violence,” he said, referring to recent inter-religious violence.
He said the government had to implement reforms so that the international community could help Lebanon and that he would head to Beirut soon to make that clear to authorities.
(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Gareth Jones)
