Lebanon's outgoing president, Emile Lahoud, has asked the army to take charge of security in the country, after members of parliament again failed to elect a successor, shortly before he left office at midnight. Failure to choose a successor leaves the country facing a political power vaccum, as Edward Yeranian reports for VOA from Beirut.
President Lahoud's spokesman, Rafiq Shalala, told reporters that the president was giving the army control of security matters to avoid any possible vacuum. He says, the president says Lebanon is facing the dangers of a state of emergency, and is instructing the army to maintain security.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said the government rejects Mr. Lahoud's order.
Meanwhile, Al Arabiya TV is reporting that the Army Commander, Gen. Michel Sleiman, has told a member of Mr. Siniora's Cabinet that he would continue to report to the government.
Earlier, Lebanese leaders failed to reach a last-ditch accord over a compromise candidate to replace outgoing President Lahoud, and agreed to postpone1 Friday's electoral session of parliament until November 30.
The decision to postpone the election for the fifth time in slightly more than a month has created a power vacuum, leaving Lebanon officially without a president for the second time in its history.
Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt, a key pillar of the pro-Western governing coalition2, explained that he had conferred with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a member of the pro-Syrian Hezbollah-led opposition3, and they agreed about postponing4 the electoral session, so as to preserve peace among Lebanon's rival parties.
He said the parliamentarians must stick to the principle of consensus5 and keep peace among the parties.
Most members of parliament from the pro-government March 14th majority were escorted to parliament at Beirut's Nejmeh Square, amid draconian6 security by specially7 trained police units. Army tanks were also positioned along many of Beirut's main arteries8.
The French, Italian and Spanish foreign minister, as well as Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa have been in Beirut in recent days, helping9 to mediate10.
In Washington, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack urged Lebanon's political factions11 to maintain calm and promote security for Lebanon's citizens. He also urged them to continue talks aimed at electing a new president.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Farid Makari, who belongs to the ruling March 14th coalition, scolded Hezbollah and its allies for opting12 to boycott13 Friday's electoral session. He said the boycott is not a democratic decision and is completely against the constitution.
The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc14 insisted that many members of the pro-government alliance had collaborated15 with Israel when it invaded Lebanon in 1982, and were not concerned then about following constitutional norms.
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