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Berri sure Suleiman to be president
Lebanon's army chief will be elected its next president, the parliament speaker said, raising hopes of an end to a year-long standoff between the government and the opposition that had paralyzed the country.
"The story is over. General Michel Suleiman has become president of the republic," Berri told An-Nahar newspaper.
Parliament Speaker and opposition leader Nabih Berri said rival leaders had agreed on General Michel Suleiman as the consensus candidate to fill the presidency, empty since Nov. 23 when the Emile Lahoud left office. "The story is over. General Michel Suleiman has become president of the republic," Berri told An-Nahar newspaper.

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also predicted an imminent end to the political crisis. "I am confident that we are on the verge of a solution," he said.

Parliament is due to convene on Friday to elect a president. But the vote will only go ahead if the rivals first agree on a broad power-sharing deal, including the shape of a new cabinet. The vote will be delayed a few days if there is no deal. The presidency is the latest stage in a power struggle between the anti-Syrian governing coalition and the opposition led by Hezbollah. Suleiman emerged in the last week as a candidate acceptable to both sides.
Posted by: Fred 2007-12-06
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=211643