Michel Suleiman Elected President of Lebanon

Category: World
Written by: Amend Foster (on May 26, 2008 - 10:28 AM)

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Lebanon's new president Michel Sulaiman made a plea for unity as he was sworn in on Sunday in a first step towards defusing a political feud that threatened to plunge the nation into a new civil war.

"Let us unite... and work towards a solid reconciliation," the former army chief said after being elected by parliament. "We have paid dearly for our national unity. Let us preserve it hand-in-hand."

Celebratory shots were fired into the air and car horns hooted as crowds of people, cheering and waving Lebanese flags, poured into the streets of Beirut and Sulaiman's hometown of Amsheet.

The election was hailed by US President George W. Bush who has given his staunch backing to the government in its standoff with the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Sulaiman was elected by 118 votes in a parliament session attended by Arab and Western dignitaries that followed a deal hammered out Wednesday in Qatar between the rival Lebanese politicians.

"This is a historic moment," said parliament speaker Nabih Berri. "I ask God to help you succeed in steering the Lebanese ship to a safe haven... today no-one in the world can turn Lebanon into a killing field."

After Sulaiman was sworn in, the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora resigned in line with the constitution but will stay on in a caretaker role.

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