Lebanon set to elect new president on Sunday

Category: World
Written by: Amend Foster (on May 25, 2008 - 12:57 PM)

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Lebanese lawmakers are poised to elect army chief Michel Sulaiman as president on Sunday in a first step toward defusing a crippling and often deadly 18-month standoff between rival factions.

Sulaiman, 59, will be elected during a parliamentary session attended by several foreign dignitaries, including Qatar Emir Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa.

It was Qatari mediation in Doha that brokered a deal last week to end the political impasse, which earlier this month had degenerated into violence, killing 65 people and pushing Lebanon to the brink of civil war.

Ali Hamdan, spokesman for parliament speaker Nabih Berri, said that among the 200 dignitaries invited for the election were also the foreign ministers of Syria and Iran.

Both countries are strong backers of the Hezbollah-led opposition. Hamdan also said a US congressional delegation would attend.

"The speaker wants this election to be a reconciliation wedding," Hamdan said.

Sulaiman's main challenge will be to impose himself as a neutral figure in governing the country.

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