Members of Hezbollah's military wing are reported to have been fighting for month alongside the Syrian army and the NationalDefenceForces, a pro-government militia allegedly set up and trained by Iran, as they gradually advanced on Qusair and surrounded it.
The exclusion of a breakaway Hutu opposition alliance called the National Council for the Defence of Democracy and the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) has been considered a reason for the failure of talks so far.
He has used his calm skills to tread a careful line on such controversial issues as the EU Rapid Reaction Force and British participation in National Missile Defence, as well as overseeing British forces in military action in Afghanistan.