[NYTr] Lebanon Deputies Committed to Presidential Election

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Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Lebanon Deputies Committed to Presidential Election

Beirut, Dec 17 (Prensa Latina) Lebanese parliamentary chiefs have
committed to trying to save a legislative session expected to elect
Army Chief General Michel Suleiman as president of that Arab country.

The commitment was made after several votes were postponed for the lack
of an agreement to reform the Constitution, thus allowing the military
chief to become the president to replace Emile Lahoud, whose mandate
expired on November 23.

To end with the worst crisis since the 1975-1990 war, the ruling
coalition and the opposition should reach consensus aimed at changing
the Law of Laws.

Sources who wanted to remain anonymous indicated the two parties may
well have found an alternative without making constitutional reforms.

According to the Lebanese Constitution, a top public official cannot
run for the presidency until two years after his functions are over,
and the future president shall be a Maronite Christian.

Michel Suleiman, 59, has been the army chief since 1998 and maintains
good relations with the Hezbollah Party, leader of the parliamentary
opposition.

hr dig mt PL-6