Lebanon's Presidential Spokesman Rafiq Shlala said President Emile Lahoud would step down and leave the palace at midnight. Shlala also said Lahoud will be making soon a decision regarding the security of the country Earlier in the day, Deputy Parliament Speaker Farid Makari warned the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud against breaching the constitution, stressing that his sole constitutional duty is to go home. Lahoud has previously suggested he might hand over his powers to General Michel Suleiman, the current army chief. It was not clear if this is the decision that Shlala was referring to. The March 14 coalition has earlier rejected such a step.
He went ahead anyway:
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's outgoing President Emile Lahoud asked the army to take control of the country's security on Friday, after rival leaders failed to agree on his successor, creating a vacuum in the presidency from midnight. Lahoud said in a statement read on his behalf that "the dangers of a state of emergency" existed and entrusted "the army with the authority to maintain security." Lahoud considers the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as illegitimate.
According to Article 62 of the Lebanese constitution presidential powers pass to the government, in the event the parliament does not elect a new president before the term of the incumbent expires. Lahoud disputes the legitimacy of the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and has said he will take action before leaving office, without giving details.