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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lebanon leader issues army order | Lebanon leader issues army order |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Outgoing Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has instructed the army to take control of security after the country's politicians failed to find a successor. | Outgoing Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has instructed the army to take control of security after the country's politicians failed to find a successor. |
| Mr Lahoud's presidency ends at midnight (2200 GMT). He said conditions existed that may lead to a state of emergency. | Mr Lahoud's presidency ends at midnight (2200 GMT). He said conditions existed that may lead to a state of emergency. |
| A vote for a new president failed after the pro-Syrian opposition did not allow the necessary quorum to be achieved. | A vote for a new president failed after the pro-Syrian opposition did not allow the necessary quorum to be achieved. |
| A spokesman for PM Fouad Siniora rejected Mr Lahoud's security move, saying it was unconstitutional. | A spokesman for PM Fouad Siniora rejected Mr Lahoud's security move, saying it was unconstitutional. |
| Mr Lahoud himself regards the government of Mr Siniora as unconstitutional. | Mr Lahoud himself regards the government of Mr Siniora as unconstitutional. |
| Order rejected | |
| The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says the statement read out by Mr Lahoud's spokesman, Mr Shalala, was convoluted. | The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says the statement read out by Mr Lahoud's spokesman, Mr Shalala, was convoluted. |
| It said the army would have responsibility for maintaining order throughout the country. | It said the army would have responsibility for maintaining order throughout the country. |
| "There are conditions and risks on the ground that could lead to a state of emergency," Mr Shalala said. | "There are conditions and risks on the ground that could lead to a state of emergency," Mr Shalala said. |
| KEY STEPS Vote scheduled 1300 (1100 GMT) Friday but not held. Speaker sets vote for 30 NovemberPresident Emile Lahoud's term expires 2400 FridayIf the presidency become vacant, constitution says presidential powers passed to PM Fouad SinioraBut pro-Syrian President Lahoud wants to appoint army chief as president Views from Beirut | |
| However, a spokesman for Mr Siniora told AFP news agency: "The statement issued by the general directorate of the president of the republic is not valid and is unconstitutional. It is as if the statement was never issued." | However, a spokesman for Mr Siniora told AFP news agency: "The statement issued by the general directorate of the president of the republic is not valid and is unconstitutional. It is as if the statement was never issued." |
| Under the constitution, Mr Siniora and his cabinet should assume control from the pro-Syrian Mr Lahoud as his term ends. | |
| However, Mr Shalala said the army would "submit the measures it takes to the cabinet once there is one that is constitutional". | |
| Our correspondent says Mr Lahoud cannot call a state of emergency without the backing of the government - which he does not recognise. | Our correspondent says Mr Lahoud cannot call a state of emergency without the backing of the government - which he does not recognise. |
| She says this appears to be the ultimate political limbo, with the rival parties even in disagreement over whether a state of emergency exists. | She says this appears to be the ultimate political limbo, with the rival parties even in disagreement over whether a state of emergency exists. |
| Tension on streets | |
| Repeated attempts to elect a new president over the past two months have been scuppered by rivalry between the factions. | Repeated attempts to elect a new president over the past two months have been scuppered by rivalry between the factions. |
| The election requires a two-thirds majority, which means that the pro-Western ruling bloc - with its slim majority - could not force its preferred candidate through parliament. | The election requires a two-thirds majority, which means that the pro-Western ruling bloc - with its slim majority - could not force its preferred candidate through parliament. |
| The tension was palpable on the streets as the crisis over electing the president came to a head, with the army deployed in force and schools closed, our correspondent says. | The tension was palpable on the streets as the crisis over electing the president came to a head, with the army deployed in force and schools closed, our correspondent 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. |
| The crisis has raised fears of civil strife, including the possibility of rival administrations. | The crisis has raised fears of civil strife, including the possibility of rival administrations. |
| The issue has turned into a regional and international affair. | |
| The US, Russia, Syria and Iran have all been intensely involved and there has been a lot of diplomatic shuttling between Damascus, Moscow, Tehran and Paris ahead of the end of Mr Lahoud's term. |