Lebanon's parliament on Monday failed again to elect a president and the voting was postponed for a ninth time to Dec. 22.
"The parliament session scheduled today has been postponed to Saturday Dec. 22 at 12:30 p.m. (1030 GMT)," Mohamed Ballout, spokesman for parliament speaker Nabih Berri, told reporters here.
Lebanese parliament was scheduled to meet Monday to vote to approve Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman for the presidency, a post which has been vacant since former President Emile Lahoud stepped down on Nov. 24.
The Western-backed ruling coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition were supposed to clinch a deal on Monday, which was the ninth attempt since Sept. 25 because the Lebanese rival leaders have failed to reach a deal on how to amend the constitution to allow Suleiman to take the post.
Gen. Suleiman, 59, has held his post since 1998. He is seen as a neutral figure in a country where nearly every politician is considered either in the pro- or anti-government camp.
According to Lebanon's constitution, a senior public servant has to stand down from his post two years ahead of running for the presidency, which made a constitutional change necessary for Suleiman's election.
Lebanese ruling coalition and the opposition have been separated by a wide chasm since six of the latter's ministers resigned from Premier Fouad Seniora's government in November last year.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article