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Consensus on Lebanon's presidency Lebanon leaders back army chief
(about 11 hours later)
Lebanon's pro-Western government has approved army chief Gen Michel Suleiman as a candidate for the presidency. Lebanon's parliamentary majority has backed a compromise candidate for president, raising hopes of an end to months of tense political deadlock.
The post has been vacant since Emile Lahoud left office on 23 November, with the ruling majority and Syria-backed opposition disputing his successor. The western-backed ruling bloc had initially rejected army chief Gen Michel Suleiman who has conditional support from the pro-Syrian opposition.
Gen Suleiman's candidacy clears the way for an end to the political deadlock, although his accession does require a constitutional amendment. His election requires an amendment to the constitution to allow senior civil servants to take over the presidency.
A vote - already postponed several times - is scheduled for 7 December. The repeatedly postponed presidential vote is now scheduled for 7 December.
Gen Suleiman, 59, has held his post since 1998. Under current legislation senior civil servants are barred from becoming president within two years of stepping down. Lebanon has been without a head of state since 27 November as rival factions argued about a successor to the pro-Syrian incumbent, Emile Lahoud.
Any amendment needs to be endorsed by the cabinet. Gen Suleiman, 59, has held his post since 1998, when he was nominated by the outgoing Gen Lahoud.
The opposition has for a year refused to recognise the current cabinet and has said that an illegitimate cabinet cannot push through a constitutional amendment. Correspondents say he has remained neutral during the year-long political crisis and has repeatedly called on the army to keep out of politics.
However, both sides are now looking into how to proceed without provoking another crisis.
Conditional supportConditional support
In a televised statement, Amin Gemayel, leader of the right-wing Maronite Christian party, the Phalange, announced the governing coalition's support of Gen Suleiman's candidacy.In a televised statement, Amin Gemayel, leader of the right-wing Maronite Christian party, the Phalange, announced the governing coalition's support of Gen Suleiman's candidacy.
The prominent Christian opposition figure, Michel Aoun, has also lent his conditional support to Gen Suleiman's candidacy. Gen Suleiman has remained neutral in Lebanon's recent upheavalsThe former opposition candidate for the job, Michel Aoun, had earlier lent his conditional support to Gen Suleiman's candidacy.
Mr Aoun's conditions included the appointment of a neutral prime minister - something the governing coalition has previously rejected. His conditions include the appointment of a neutral prime minister - something the governing coalition has previously rejected.
He also asked that Gen Suleiman step down at the 2009 parliamentary elections rather than serving a full term until 2013.He also asked that Gen Suleiman step down at the 2009 parliamentary elections rather than serving a full term until 2013.
The Shia militant group Hezbollah said it would back Gen Suleiman on condition of Mr Aoun's endorsement.The Shia militant group Hezbollah said it would back Gen Suleiman on condition of Mr Aoun's endorsement.
Under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, all the country's presidents must be Maronite Christians. This means most political groupings have now expressed support for him, but the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says there is no guarantee he will get the job.
The post of prime minister is always reserved for a Sunni, while that of speaker of the House goes to a Shia. Paralysis
Under the current constitution senior civil servants are barred from becoming president within two years of stepping down.
Analysts say the hope is now that the amendment can be passed without further another crisis breaking out.
The deadlock has paralysed Lebanon politically and economically since the devastating 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
The constitution has been amended twice since 1998, first to allow Mr Lahoud to become president and again in 2004 to extend his term by three years.
That move sharply divided Lebanon into pro- and anti-Syrian camps, and months later Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon amid huge protests after the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri, who had recently joined the anti-Syrian side.
An amendment to Article 49 must now be approved by cabinet, which has been dominated by pro-westerners since six pro-Syrian ministers quit in November 2006.
Under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, the country's president must be from the Maronite Christian minority.
The post of prime minister is always reserved for a Sunni Muslim, while that of parliament speaker goes to a Shia.