Region | Lebanon
End to 18 months of political deadlock
Lebanon's parliament has elected General Michel Sulaiman as the new president.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:11 May 25, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Newly-elected Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, right, is led by Lebanese Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, left, as he reviews the honor guard upon his arrival at the Lebanese Parliament, in Beirut, Lebanon.
Beirut: Lebanon's parliament has elected General Michel Sulaiman as the nation's next president, bringing an end to 18 months of political deadlock.
In a vote aired live on pan-Arab television stations, General Sulaiman procured 118 out of the 127 votes in question.
This move is a key step towards bringing an end to a long political crisis that brought the country to the brink of civil war.
The capital's downtown area was sealed by army and police security before the lawmakers began meeting at 5pm (1400 GMT) to vote for the compromise choice of both the majority and opposition.
The meeting is being attended by many foreign dignitaries including Arab and European foreign ministers.
The foreign ministers of Syria and Iran, states that back Hezbollah, and Saudi Arabia, which supports the Sunni government were in attendance
Other dignitaries on hand include French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana.
The emir of Qatar also was expected to attend. A US delegation of six congressmen, three of them of Lebanese descent, was also among arrivals.
The election is regarded as a step that will end 18 months of political crisis that has pushed the country near a new civil war.
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.
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