Lebanese fail to elect president

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Friday, 23 November 2007, 12:04 GMT

Lebanese fail to elect president

Lebanese MPs have failed to convene to elect a new
president as the term of the incumbent, Emile Lahoud,
expires.

Members of the Western-backed majority had hoped
to hold a vote, but the pro-Syrian opposition did not
allow the session to achieve the quorum needed.

The crisis has raised fears of civil strife, including
the possibility of rival administrations, as happened
during the 15-year civil war.

Parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said the vote
would be held on 30 November.

Repeated attempts to elect a new president over
the past two months have been scuppered by
rivalry between the factions.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7108657.stm

[Parmenion]

1. What Next?

Lahoud, the President of Lebanon, is going to step down tonight at midnight. Once his term is over the Lebanese Presidency reverts to the Prime Minister and the Ministers, who the opposition has been trying to overthrow for nearly a year now. Lahoud says that he will take the "least damaging" step, but it seems he will wait until right before midnight to announce his move. Right now the Army and other Lebanese security forces are out in force, there are tanks, trucks, and soldiers all over the place.

[Scurrilous]

2. Lahoud asks army to take over Lebanon security

"Lebanon's outgoing President Emile Lahoud asked the army to take control of the country's security on Friday, after rival leaders failed to agree on his successor, creating a vacuum in the presidency from midnight.

Lahoud said in a statement read on his behalf that "the dangers of a state of emergency" existed and entrusted "the army with the authority to maintain security."

Lahoud considers the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as illegitimate."

http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-11-23T183455Z_01_L23519116_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-LEBANON-PRESIDENT-LAHOUD-COL.XML