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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Hezbollah-lead opposition to boycott Lebanon's constitution |
| 2007-11-23 |
| Lebanon's opposition will boycott a parliament session to elect a new president on Friday with no deal among leaders on who will replace the pro-Syria incumbent, whose term ends the same day, a senior opposition source said. The anti-Syrian governing coalition said on Thursday it would go to the session to elect a replacement for President Emile Lahoud. But the boycott by the Damascus-backed opposition means there will be no two-thirds quorum for the vote. Many fear Lahoud's departure from office with no deal on his successor could result in two rival administrations and violence in a country still rebuilding from its 1975-1990 civil war. French-led efforts have failed to forge agreement between the governing coalition and the opposition, which includes the powerful Hezbollah. The election has already been postponed four times. Lahoud has said he will take action before leaving office if there is no deal. Like the opposition, he says the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is illegitimate. Although he has not said what he plans to do, one option is asking the army to take over. "I stand by my position that this government is illegitimate and unconstitutional. If it thinks it can go on without the election because of outside backing, it will bring catastrophes on the country sooner or later," Lahoud told a Hezbollah-led delegation. "Therefore, even if I stand alone, there are duties I must perform." |
| Posted by:Fred |