BEIRUT, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visited Lebanon on Thursday in a bid to help resolving its internal political crisis prior to the forthcoming controversial presidential elections.

    Lebanese leaders should launch a "new phase of dialogue," Kouchner said upon arriving in Beirut, the local Naharnet news website reported.

    "Only the Lebanese can settle their problems and France is ready to help," he said, calling for presidential elections held "according to the constitutional schedule."

    France has taken the lead in trying to resolve the crisis, gathering all the Lebanese rival parties for a conference near Paris in July and sending high-ranking envoy Jean-Claude Cousseran to the region for consultations with the key players.

    During his eight-hour stopover in Beirut, Kouchner held talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on ways of breaking the ongoing political deadlock, said the report.

    Lebanon has been in political impasse since six pro-Syrian ministers quit the cabinet last November as a result of power struggle between parliament majority and opposition blocs.

    Kouchner's visit in Beirut was his last stop in a regional tour which included Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt and Jordan.