Germany's Fischer Starts Middle East Tour

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer arrived in Beirut Friday on the first leg of a Middle Eastern tour which will also include talks about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Syria, Jordan, Israel and Egypt. He was met at the airport by his Lebanese counterpart, Jean Obeid, and was driven straight to the Baabda Palace for talks with President Emile Lahoud. He was later to meet Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. On Saturday, Fischer heads for Syria by road and on the way will visit the Ummayyad ruins at Anjar in the eastern Bekaa valley, according to members of his delegation. (AFP)