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| Lebanese MPs delay crucial vote | Lebanese MPs delay crucial vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lebanon's parliament has adjourned a crucial session to elect a new president until 23 October. | Lebanon's parliament has adjourned a crucial session to elect a new president until 23 October. |
| Speaker Nabih Berri said there were not enough MPs to make the two-thirds quorum, after members of the opposition pro-Syrian bloc stayed away. | Speaker Nabih Berri said there were not enough MPs to make the two-thirds quorum, after members of the opposition pro-Syrian bloc stayed away. |
| The opposition wants to prevent the Western-backed majority from electing an anti-Syrian head of state. | The opposition wants to prevent the Western-backed majority from electing an anti-Syrian head of state. |
| Pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud is due to step down in two months, bringing three years of political crisis to a head. | Pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud is due to step down in two months, bringing three years of political crisis to a head. |
| Parliament has until late November to choose a successor who, by political consensus, must be a Maronite Christian. | Parliament has until late November to choose a successor who, by political consensus, must be a Maronite Christian. |
| Heavy security | |
| Lebanon has been locked in political crisis since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005. | Lebanon has been locked in political crisis since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005. |
| The anti-Syrian March 14 coalition under Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has a dwindling majority of 68 in the 128-seat parliament after the murders of five of its MPs. | The anti-Syrian March 14 coalition under Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has a dwindling majority of 68 in the 128-seat parliament after the murders of five of its MPs. |
| LEADING CANDIDATES Nassib Lahoud: Pro-government candidate. Former US ambassador. Leading industrialistMichel Aoun: Pro-Syrian candidate. Former army commander who fought Syria during civil war. Returned from exile in 2005. Vocal opponent of governmentMichel Suleiman: Army commander since 1998. Electing him requires constitutional amendmentRiad Salameh: Central bank governor since 1993. Widely respected at home and abroad. Election requires constitutional amendmentBoutrous Harb: Pro-government candidate. MP and former ministerJean Obeid: Possible consensus candidate. Foreign minister 2003-2004 | |
| This is not enough for the two-thirds majority required in the first round of voting. | This is not enough for the two-thirds majority required in the first round of voting. |
| Antoine Ghanim was the latest anti-Syrian MP to be killed when he was caught in a car bombing last week. | |
| Tanks and troops ringed the parliament building for Tuesday's planned session and anti-Syrian MPs were escorted to there under tight security from the seaside hotel where many have been staying. | |
| Some opposition MPs mingled in the corridors with their opponents but remained outside when the bell rang for them to take their places in the chamber. | |
| "Despite everything, we continue to seek constructive dialogue and practical discussion with the various opposition blocs to salvage the presidential election," said deputy house speaker Farid Makari, reading a statement from March 14. | |
| The pro-Syrian coalition is led by the Islamic movement Hezbollah with support from the Christian leader Michel Aoun. | The pro-Syrian coalition is led by the Islamic movement Hezbollah with support from the Christian leader Michel Aoun. |
| The delay in voting for a new president gives more time, in theory, for intensive consultations to break the deadlock and produce agreement on a compromise candidate, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut. |