United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Lebanon Thursday for talks to help end the political crises over the election of a new president to replace Emile Lahoud. Upon arrival at the Beirut airport Ban ( pictured at Beirut airport) told reporters " Lebanon should hold the presidential elections on time next week , in accordance with the Lebanese constitution".Lebanon's Parliament speaker has postponed three votes as Lebanese rival leaders failed to agree on a compromise candidate. The political crisis in Lebanon is the worst since its 1975-90 civil war.
From the airport Ban immediately went to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri , an ally of the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led opposition. Ban will hold talks later with the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, who is reported to have drawn up a list of candidates that may be acceptable to both government and the opposition.