CRECY-LA-CHAPELLE, France, May 21 - General Michel Aoun , the exiled anti-Syrian Christian Lebanese leader was not alowed to leave his residence 50 km east of Paris , in order to prevent him to address the European Parliament sieging in Strasbourg. 20 paramilitary gendarmes cordoned the residence of Aoun , preventing access of reporters and stopping his private dentist, Nabil Nicolas and lawyer Henri Juramy from entering the house.Until now, the terms of General Aoun's exiles have not been strictly enforced, which sould prevent him from attending public events. Aoun was scheduled to address the European Parliament Mediteranean Intergroup and to hold a subsequent press conference.
The intergroup's chairwoman Maria Izquierdo Rojo said that the French ban contradicted the Parliament's outerterritorial status. Henri Juramy who accused the authorities of violating the Europena Human Rights Convention, was planning to start legal proceedings against the authorities. Michel Aoun's daughter Claudine is scheduled to address the intergroup on his behalf.
Aoun was forced into exile in 1990 when Syria crushed the Lebanese army forces under his command .
According to Middle East analysts, the unusual heavy handedness of France is probably due to the Elysee's desire of not antogonizing Syria and the Pro-Syrian goverment in Beirut, specially after France regained what it considers a leading role in the Middle East peace process after helping to broker last month's cease fire agreement between Hizbollah and Israel. It is also known that French President Jacques Chirac and Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri enjoy a personal and business friendship . Hariri is reported to have contacted Chirac on Monday to discuss the aftermath of last month fighting.