Lebanese MPs delay vote once more

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The presidential election in Lebanon has been postponed for a ninth time, despite more efforts to resolve the political crisis there.

Government and opposition have agreed in principle that army chief should stand for the vacant presidency.

However, they have yet to finalise how to amend the constitution to make Gen Michel Suleiman's accession possible.

There has also been no agreement on the Syrian-backed opposition demands for a restructuring of the government.

The election has now been rescheduled for Saturday 22 December.

Currently, a sitting army chief cannot become president, but there are sharp political differences between the opposition and the Western-backed parliamentary majority preventing an amendment being agreed.

The presidency has been vacant since 23 November, when Syrian-backed Emile Lahoud's term ended without a successor being appointed.