The French delegate was attending the Socialist International meeting in Beirut was touring the capital in a convertible car, was at the time taking pictures of posters showing Hezbollah "martyrs" who died in combat. The incident was reported by a senior member of Walid Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party, Wael Abou Faour.

French delegate Karim Pakzad was on the airport road when a motorcyclist followed by a four wheel-drive car carrying armed men stopped him and interrogated him, Abou Faour said.

The road leading to the airport is in a zone dominated by Hizbullah.

Jumblatt, a key leader of the anti-Syrian majority, plans to hold a press conference early Sunday to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident, Abou Faour said.

The Socialist International was holding a two-day conference in Beirut for its Mediterranean Committee. In its final statement, the committee called for the immediate election of a president.

Tags: Hezbollah, source: Naharnet, source: Ya Libnan, Wael Abu Faour