Lebanese opposition MP Walid Jumblatt accused Syria on Monday of playing a major role in the violence in the region and promised to continue to fight them as much as he could. Speaking to Labor MK Colette Avital at an unplanned meeting in Paris, Jumblatt said "We are stuck between the Israeli rock and the Syrian hard place," Army Radio reported. The Druse leader in Lebanon spared no insult in describing Syrian President Bashar Assad and his regime, according to Avital, calling Assad deceitful and manipulative. After talking to Avital, Jumblatt continued to meet with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, where he stated that all Syrian influence must be removed from Lebanon. Jumblatt has been a vocal opponent of Syria and pressed for the removal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. He has accused Syria of being behind the killing of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005. Damascus issued a warrant for Jumblatt's arrest in May.