PARIS - A Lebanese politician says he expects French President Nicolas Sarkozy will use his trip next week to the Middle East to try to end the crisis in Gaza.

Saad Hariri, head of the anti-Syrian majority in Lebanon's parliament, met with Sarkozy in Paris on Friday morning.

Sarkozy travels Monday and Tuesday to Egypt, Israel, Syria and Lebanon, and also will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

Hariri said that Sarkozy "will speak to everyone to try to stop what is happening in Gaza."

France has been vocal in the diplomatic push for peace in Gaza.

But Israel this week rejected French calls for a pause in the Israeli assault on Hamas in Gaza to allow in humanitarian supplies and to get casualties out. -AP