Lebanese MPs are reportedly preparing a petition requesting an amendment of Article 49 of the constitution to allow the election of army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman. The daily An Nahar said Saturday the petition, which will be signed by 10 MPs, was welcomed by Saad Hariri, leader of the biggest parliamentary bloc. It said Hariri assured Speaker Nabih Berri that he supports any "way out" of the political stalemate.An Nahar said the petition, if approved, will have to go to cabinet for endorsement, a move that could face obstacles since Berri and the opposition do not recognize Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government. It said Berri authorized MP Robert Ghanem to prepare a study on a constitutional amendment mechanism.
An Nahar uncovered that a meeting in Ain al-Tineh between the Hezbollah and Amal commands took place Thursday evening in a bid to reach a united stance toward Suleiman's election. An Nahar quoted Berri as saying during the meeting that it is not in the interest of the Shiites to face up to Suleiman's election. "If there will be opposition to Suleiman , let it come from other than the Shiites" Berri said.