CBNNews.com - BEIRUT, Lebanon - Senior members of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror organization turned down a request by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to meet with them.

"I am going to meet with all of the political parties as [is] possible," Carter told reporters shortly after arriving in Beirut on Tuesday.

"I understand that several leaders of Hezbollah said they were not going to meet with any president or former president of the United States, so I don't know yet," he said.

A senior member of Hezbollah told The Associated Press off the record that the group may issue a statement on Wednesday or Thursday.

In April, Carter met with exiled Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal in Damascus, although the U.S. also considers Hamas a terror organization.

Carter had meetings scheduled with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

The former president said while in Lebanon, he will assess whether the Carter Center, headquartered in Atlanta, will monitor the country's next parliamentary elections.

"I will also be making an assessment on whether the Carter Center will monitor the elections that we hope will be held on time next June," Carter said.

Source: The Associated Press