EU wants speedy election of president

Brussels/London: The European Union called Lebanon's institutional crisis unacceptable and said on Tuesday it should elect a president as soon as possible.

The Slovenian EU Presidency said it was "sincerely worried" by the escalation of tensions in Lebanon.

"The situation is deteriorating," Matjaz Sinkovec, secretary of state at Slovenia's foreign ministry, said after talks between the EU and Lebanon's acting Foreign Minister Tareq Mitri.

"The continuing institutional crisis in Lebanon is simply not acceptable," he told a news conference. "The parties need to return to dialogue in a spirit of compromise. It is crucial that the president is elected without delay."

In London, Prime Minister Gordon Brown met his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Siniora on Tuesday, renewing Britain's backing to his government amid the country's worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

"I welcomed the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Siniora today," Brown said in a statement after the pair met at his Downing Street offices in central London.

"His government has our strong support as it works to restore and strengthen the integrity of Lebanon's institutions, and to protect Lebanon's future as a tolerant and diverse democracy."