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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Lebanon president deadline looms | Lebanon president deadline looms |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Members of the Western-backed majority in the Lebanese parliament are due to convene as the crisis over the election of a new president comes to a head. | Members of the Western-backed majority in the Lebanese parliament are due to convene as the crisis over the election of a new president comes to a head. |
| But the pro-Syrian opposition says it will not turn up in large enough numbers to achieve the quorum needed. | But the pro-Syrian opposition says it will not turn up in large enough numbers to achieve the quorum needed. |
| The term of the incumbent, pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, expires at midnight. | The term of the incumbent, pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, expires at midnight. |
| The tension is palpable on the streets with the army is deployed in force and schools are closed, BBC Beirut correspondent Kim Ghattas says. | The tension is palpable on the streets with the army is deployed in force and schools are closed, BBC Beirut correspondent Kim Ghattas says. |
| Check points have also been set up and the ministry of interior has suspended all firearm permits until further notice. | Check points have also been set up and the ministry of interior has suspended all firearm permits until further notice. |
| Repeated attempts to elect a new president over the past two months have been scuppered by rivalry between Western-backed and pro-Syrian factions. | Repeated attempts to elect a new president over the past two months have been scuppered by rivalry between Western-backed and pro-Syrian factions. |
| The failure to find a compromise has raised fears of civil strife, including the possibility that the opposition could create a rival administration, as happened during the 15-year civil war. | The failure to find a compromise has raised fears of civil strife, including the possibility that the opposition could create a rival administration, as happened during the 15-year civil war. |
| Friday's parliamentary vote was scheduled for 1300 local time (1100 GMT). | |
| No compromise | No compromise |
| The election of a president requires a two-thirds majority, which means that the pro-Western Syrian ruling bloc - with its slim majority - cannot force its preferred candidate through parliament. | The election of a president requires a two-thirds majority, which means that the pro-Western Syrian ruling bloc - with its slim majority - cannot force its preferred candidate through parliament. |
| KEY STEPS Vote scheduled 1300 (1100 GMT) FridayPresident Emile Lahoud's term expires 2400 FridayIf no president elected, constitution says presidential powers passed to PM Fouad SinioraBut pro-Syrian President Lahoud wants to appoint army chief as president Views from Beirut | KEY STEPS Vote scheduled 1300 (1100 GMT) FridayPresident Emile Lahoud's term expires 2400 FridayIf no president elected, constitution says presidential powers passed to PM Fouad SinioraBut pro-Syrian President Lahoud wants to appoint army chief as president Views from Beirut |
| Our correspondent says that a last minute deal is still possible and the ruling bloc may vote with a simple majority to elect a president - this would be unconstitutional and would infuriate the opposition. | Our correspondent says that a last minute deal is still possible and the ruling bloc may vote with a simple majority to elect a president - this would be unconstitutional and would infuriate the opposition. |
| According to Article 62 of the Lebanese constitution, if no candidate is elected before Mr Lahoud's mandate expires, his powers are automatically transferred to the anti-Syrian government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. | According to Article 62 of the Lebanese constitution, if no candidate is elected before Mr Lahoud's mandate expires, his powers are automatically transferred to the anti-Syrian government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. |
| However, President Lahoud has vowed not to hand over power to Mr Siniora, and said he would name army chief General Michel Suleiman as his provisional successor instead. | However, President Lahoud has vowed not to hand over power to Mr Siniora, and said he would name army chief General Michel Suleiman as his provisional successor instead. |
| The political deadlock has already led to the vote being postponed four times since 25 September. | The political deadlock has already led to the vote being postponed four times since 25 September. |
| International efforts | International efforts |
| The issue is also turning into a regional and international affair. | The issue is also turning into a regional and international affair. |
| The US, Russia, Syria and Iran are all intensely involved and there has been a lot of diplomatic shuttling between Damascus, Moscow, Tehran and Paris. | The US, Russia, Syria and Iran are all intensely involved and there has been a lot of diplomatic shuttling between Damascus, Moscow, Tehran and Paris. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned several of the country's top leaders on Monday. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned several of the country's top leaders on Monday. |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who has been trying to broker a solution but has now left Beirut, said despite complications "a miracle is still possible". | French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who has been trying to broker a solution but has now left Beirut, said despite complications "a miracle is still possible". |
| But his Italian counterpart, Massimo D'Alema, was pessimistic on the eve of Friday's deadline. | But his Italian counterpart, Massimo D'Alema, was pessimistic on the eve of Friday's deadline. |
| "Tomorrow, I don't believe there will be an election and this will create difficult conditions," he said. | "Tomorrow, I don't believe there will be an election and this will create difficult conditions," he said. |
| The French, Italian and Spanish foreign ministers have spent several days in Lebanon, meeting rival groups in an attempt to break the deadlock. | The French, Italian and Spanish foreign ministers have spent several days in Lebanon, meeting rival groups in an attempt to break the deadlock. |
Are you in Lebanon? What is your view of the political deadlock in your country? | Are you in Lebanon? What is your view of the political deadlock in your country? |