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Lebanon president talks stalled | Lebanon president talks stalled |
(about 15 hours later) | |
A session in the Lebanese parliament to elect a president is set to be delayed for the seventh time as negotiations on a compromise candidate remain stalled. | A session in the Lebanese parliament to elect a president is set to be delayed for the seventh time as negotiations on a compromise candidate remain stalled. |
The pro-West ruling bloc and pro-Syrian opposition have agreed on army chief Gen Michel Suleiman, but are divided on the make-up of a new government. | The pro-West ruling bloc and pro-Syrian opposition have agreed on army chief Gen Michel Suleiman, but are divided on the make-up of a new government. |
There is also said to be a dispute over how to amend the constitution to allow a senior civil servant to be elected. | There is also said to be a dispute over how to amend the constitution to allow a senior civil servant to be elected. |
The deadlock meant Emile Lahoud stepped down last month without a successor. | The deadlock meant Emile Lahoud stepped down last month without a successor. |
When his term in office ended on 23 November, Mr Lahoud's presidential powers were passed to the pro-Western government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. | When his term in office ended on 23 November, Mr Lahoud's presidential powers were passed to the pro-Western government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. |
'No time' | 'No time' |
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner spearheaded international attempts to resolve the political deadlock earlier on Tuesday by holding talks in Beirut with the opposition-aligned parliamentary speaker, Nabih Berri, and majority leader Saad Hariri. | French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner spearheaded international attempts to resolve the political deadlock earlier on Tuesday by holding talks in Beirut with the opposition-aligned parliamentary speaker, Nabih Berri, and majority leader Saad Hariri. |
There can be no parliament session on Friday because... a political understanding is lacking Ibrahim KanaanFree Patriotic Movement | |
But opposition Maronite Christian politician Ibrahim Kanaan said Mr Kouchner had failed because the ruling bloc had "refused to discuss any political understanding ahead of the election". | But opposition Maronite Christian politician Ibrahim Kanaan said Mr Kouchner had failed because the ruling bloc had "refused to discuss any political understanding ahead of the election". |
"Even if there is a political agreement, we will not have time to carry out a constitutional amendment between today and tomorrow," Mr Kanaan told the AFP news agency. | "Even if there is a political agreement, we will not have time to carry out a constitutional amendment between today and tomorrow," Mr Kanaan told the AFP news agency. |
Ammar Houri, an MP from Mr Hariri's Future parliamentary bloc, also said Friday's session was "most probably going to be delayed". | Ammar Houri, an MP from Mr Hariri's Future parliamentary bloc, also said Friday's session was "most probably going to be delayed". |
A delay would come despite both sides announcing earlier this week that they had agreed to back Lebanon's 59-year-old Maronite Christian army chief as a compromise candidate for the presidency. | A delay would come despite both sides announcing earlier this week that they had agreed to back Lebanon's 59-year-old Maronite Christian army chief as a compromise candidate for the presidency. |
Correspondents say Gen Suleiman has remained neutral during the year-long political crisis and has repeatedly called on the army to keep out of politics. | Correspondents say Gen Suleiman has remained neutral during the year-long political crisis and has repeatedly called on the army to keep out of politics. |
Constitutional amendment | Constitutional amendment |
However, under Article 49 of the current constitution, senior civil servants are barred from becoming president within two years of stepping down. | However, under Article 49 of the current constitution, senior civil servants are barred from becoming president within two years of stepping down. |
Gen Suleiman has remained neutral in Lebanon's recent upheavals | Gen Suleiman has remained neutral in Lebanon's recent upheavals |
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. | 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. Months later, Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon amid huge protests after the assassination of Mr Hariri's father, Rafik, a former prime minister who had recently joined the anti-Syrian side. | That move sharply divided Lebanon into pro- and anti-Syrian camps. Months later, Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon amid huge protests after the assassination of Mr Hariri's father, Rafik, a former prime minister who had recently joined the anti-Syrian side. |
Any further amendment to the constitution would have to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the 128-seat parliament, something also required for the election of a new president. A quorum of two-thirds is also necessary for either vote. | Any further amendment to the constitution would have to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the 128-seat parliament, something also required for the election of a new president. A quorum of two-thirds is also necessary for either vote. |
Under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, the country's president must be from the Maronite Christian minority. | 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. | The post of prime minister is always reserved for a Sunni Muslim, while that of parliament speaker goes to a Shia. |
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