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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Election of new president for Lebanon delayed |
| 2007-09-24 |
| With Lebanon caught in virtual political stalemate, Amin Gemayel, a leader in the governing coalition, said Saturday that a much-anticipated election for president set for Tuesday was unlikely to take place until next month, diminishing hopes that the deadlock could end soon. Parliament will still convene on that date, but the session to elect a successor for President Emile Lahoud, who must step down on Nov. 24, will probably center on discussions between the ruling majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition. The majority wants to elect one of its own, but the opposition is pressing for a compromise candidate. The opposition vowed to block a candidate it did not want by boycotting the session. Only a few opposition legislators are expected at the session so that the number of participants is fewer than two-thirds of the 128 seats in Parliament, the quorum needed to elect a president. Mr. Gemayel spoke to reporters following a meeting with the speaker of Parliament and a leader of the opposition, Nabih Berri. It was the first time the two had met in at least six months. Mr. Gemayel said the session would be the first in a series of meetings and “at the end we will agree on a president who is capable of uniting all the people.” Lebanon has been caught in a 10-month power struggle between the pro-Western government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the Hezbollah-led opposition, supported by Iran and Syria. The election for president could play an important role in settling that confrontation. If Parliament fails to elect a successor for Mr. Lahoud 10 days before his terms ends, the majority contends it can elect a president with 65 votes of the 128 total. |
| Posted by:Fred |