Press concern over Lebanon deadlock

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7094777.stm

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Papers in the Middle East fear that the failure of Lebanon's political parties to agree on a presidential candidate could deepen the country's divisions and create a dangerous political vacuum.

A commentator in the Lebanese independent Christian Al-Nahar paper, referring to a recent speech by the chief of the opposition group Hezbollah, says that the crisis will decide whether Lebanon's future lies with the country's pro-Western factions, or those, like Hezbollah, who are more closely aligned to Syria and Iran.

Several commentators in the wider Middle East express deep concern over the potential consequences of political paralysis, while one Syrian writer slams what he sees as US interference in Lebanon's affairs.

RAJIH AL-KHURI IN LEBANON'S AL-NAHAR

Hassan Nasrallah's speech was all about which path Lebanon will take. Will it be towards the Iranian-Syrian alliance or will it be towards completing the independence uprising? This is the dilemma facing the nation.

SATI NUR-AL-DIN IN LEBANON'S AL-SAFIR

There is no alternative but war, which is the inevitable result of all the scenarios that are being presented as a way out of the presidential crisis.

SULAYMAN TAQY-AL-DIN IN LEBANON'S AL-SAFIR

Despite its importance, the presidency is not the issue. It will not be the end of the road. The government that will follow will have to discuss thorny and crucial issues such as the weapons of the resistance, international resolutions and other matters.

HASAN ABU-TALIB IN EGYPT'S AL-AHRAM

Without a national agreement on the next president, Lebanon faces a huge political crisis that may destroy the institutions of the government and presidency together. If this happens, there will be a major constitutional and institutional vacuum.

EDITORIAL IN SAUDI AL-WATAN

The ongoing controversy over the presidential issue may lead to a vacuum and push the country down a dead-end road that is fraught with problems.

ABD-AL-KARIM ABU-ZAYD IN JORDAN'S AL-ARAB AL-YAWM

I believe that if the two conflicting parties in Lebanon kept domestic politics separate from external conflicts, they would find a common understanding on the future president.

ISAM DARI IN SYRIA'S TISHRIN

US President Bush and his administration do not mind that the USA, Europe, Asia, Africa and every Tom, Dick and Harry on Earth interfere in Lebanese internal affairs. They only prevent Syria from interfering.

<A href="http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk">BBC Monitoring</A> selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.