French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrives in Beirut Sunday for talks with Lebanese officials on progress of the Beirut-Damascus ties prior to visiting Syria to set the stage for President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit.

Sarkozy's visit to Damascus, according to the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, has been linked to progress in establishing diplomatic ties between Lebanon and Syria.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit also is due in Beirut on Wednesday to relay a message to President Michel Suleiman from his Egyptian counterpart Husni Mubarak on bilateral relations and regional issues.

Abul Gheit also would follow up in Beirut topics that Premier Fouad Saniora had raised during his recent visit to Alexandria.

One day after the Egyptian official's visit to the Lebanese capital, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is to hold talks in Beirut with Suleiman and Lebanese officials on regional issues and bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun launches on Sunday a tour of south Lebanon to emphasize on his alliance with Hizbullah and declare backing to its resistance in confronting Israeli threats.