Posted on 03/10/2008 3:52:47 AM PDT by maquiladora
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's presidential election was postponed to March 25 from Tuesday, the parliament speaker said on Monday, the 16th delay of a vote derailed by the worst political crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.
The new election date set by speaker Nabih Berri is just four days before an Arab summit in Damascus which some leaders are not expected to attend unless the Lebanon crisis is resolved.
The crisis has paralyzed much of government, left the presidency vacant since November and led to bouts of lethal street violence in a country still rebuilding from its 15-year civil war.
It has also poisoned ties between Saudi Arabia and Syria, which back opposing sides in the conflict.
Riyadh supports the Beirut governing coalition, along with Western countries including the United States, while Syria and its ally Iran back the opposition alliance led by Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Jordan's King Abdullah are not expected to attend the March 29-30 Arab summit unless a Lebanese president is elected and attends.
The Lebanese rivals have agreed that army chief General Michel Suleiman should fill the presidency, vacant since the term of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud expired in November.
But Suleiman's confirmation by parliament has been repeatedly derailed by a dispute over the make-up of a cabinet to be formed after his election.
Here we go again...
The Arab League Summit By Syria will be a Flop without a Lebanese President! Saudi’s said no Way they are attending.... This is Brinksmanship...
this is the song that never ends, yes, it goes on and on my friends . . .
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