Lebanon's pres. leaves without successor

[oberliner]

Source: AP

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's political tumult intensified as President Emile Lahoud said the country is in a "state of emergency" and handed security powers to the army before he left office late Friday without a successor. The rival, pro-Western Cabinet rejected the declaration.

Lahoud's final announcement created new confusion in an already unsettled situation, which many Lebanese fear could explode into violence between supporters of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's Western-backed government and the pro-Syria opposition led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

The departure of Lahoud, a staunch ally of the Syrian regime during nine years in office, was a long-sought goal of the government installed by parliament's anti-Syria majority, which has been trying to put one of its own in the presidency.

Hezbollah and other opposition groups have blocked legislators from electing a new president by boycotting ballot sessions, leaving parliament without the required quorum.

The fight has put Lebanon into dangerous, unknown territory: Both sides are locked in bitter recriminations, accusing the other of breaking the constitution, and they are nowhere near a compromise on a candidate to become head of state.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071124/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_election;_ylt=At_9KtqMMfWBxu8ULYzt09us0NUE

[MADem]

1. Oh boy....Hezbollah is gonna jump on that vacuum like flies on shit. NT

[ohio2007]

3. The "boycotters" win the election by not voting ( democracy in practice )

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D9E44C3F-83FC-408C-8B2A-00F85812686C.htm?FRAMELESS=true&NRNODEGUID=%7bD9E44C3F-83FC-408C-8B2A-00F85812686C%7d

If a president was chosen..... the clock would have been ticking as to how long he would remain in one piece err... remain in power

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=56186

The killing of Ghanem is the third such assassination
of a March 14 MP since November
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E81C89C4-EB19-4D6E-AC61-635BB88A3D05.htm



Al Jazeera travelled to a secret location in Beirut to speak to Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general and the number two to Hassan Nasrallah.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/499129D8-0199-4162-ADFC-C7A20FC61B11.htm


Where do the leading US politicians stand on issues of democracy in Lebanon ?

<crickets>

[MADem]

4. That's a valid question you ask. I'd wager they're all ducking it!!! nt

[Dancing_Dave]

2. Actually, this might have been the best Lahoud could do

General Michael Suleiman may be the only leader in Lebanon who has no sectarian bias. He prevented a civil war once before and he may do it again. Best of all, he's not overly ambitious. I'd bet anything he won't use this to declare himself President for Life...which plenty of generals around the world would be all to happy to do.