Region | Lebanon
Profile: General Michel Nuhad Sulaiman
After a long period of unrest and discord, the position of president of Lebanon, which has been vacant since last November, looks set to be occupied by a man widely respected by all: General Michel Nuhad Sulaiman.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 17:01 May 21, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- General Michel Nuhad Sulaiman looks poised to be Lebanon's next president.
After a long period of unrest and discord, the position of president of Lebanon, which has been vacant since last November, looks set to be occupied by a man widely respected by all: General Michel Nuhad Sulaiman.
Sulaiman has served as head of the Lebanese army since 1998 and is staunchly anti-sectarian.
Over the last three years, under his command, the Lebanese army has been a uniform protective force in the state, preserving the security and rights of citizens at all times.
Sulaiman has repeatedly stressed that the army exists to serve and protect Lebanon and all those within it and will not suppress Democratic life.
One of his most prominent achievements includes the fight against terrorism. Under his guidance the Lebanese army was able to uncover and dismantle several terrorist networks. His most recent operation involved wiping out militant group Fatah Islam from the Nahr Al Bared camp.
Sulaiman joined the Lebanese army in 1967, graduating from the military academy in 1970 with the rank of lieutenant. Since then, he has led a decorated military career, winning many medals for excellence in service.
Lauded for his unique neutral position during the 1975-91 civil war, where he distanced himself from either party affiliation, Sulaiman quickly rose through the ranks.
In 1990 he was appointed head of the intelligence office in Mount Lebanon, and the following year he became the Secretary of Staff Command of the Lebanese army.
He then took charge of the leadership of an infantry brigade of the army from 1993-1996 in western Bekaa, during the period of repeated confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces.
Sulaiman was born in 1948 and received his BA in Political Science from the Lebanese University. He has mastered two languages, French and English, and is married with three sons.
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