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Lebanon MPs elect new president Lebanon vote ends leader deadlock
(about 1 hour later)
Lebanon's parliament has elected army commander General Michel Suleiman as president, ending deadlock which has left the post vacant since November.Lebanon's parliament has elected army commander General Michel Suleiman as president, ending deadlock which has left the post vacant since November.
The vote followed a deal last week to end some of the worst violence since the 1975-90 civil war. The Western-backed government and Hezbollah-led opposition had agreed the army chief as a compromise candidate as violence raised fears of civil war.
Correspondents say Gen Suleiman, who was standing unopposed, is seen as neutral by Lebanon's rival factions. Gen Suleiman called for "the beginning of a nation that is starting to wake up from self-destruction".
Applause broke out in the chamber as speaker Nabih Berri announced Gen Suleiman had won 118 votes out of 127. But correspondents say his powers are limited after recent Hezbollah gains.
Trumpets played and supporters waved flags, while celebratory gunfire resounded around the capital, Beirut. As he was sworn in, the new president called for a "new phase", and a "quiet dialogue" on some of Lebanon's thorniest issues, including the role of Hezbollah as an armed movement.
As Mr Suleiman was sworn in, he said the day marked "the beginning of a nation that is starting to wake up from self-destruction". Let us unite... and work towards a solid reconciliation... we have paid dearly for our national unity, let us preserve it hand-in-hand Michel SuleimanLebanese President class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7419322.stm">Lebanon president's challenges class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7412170.stm">Profile: Gen Michel Suleiman
"I call upon you all, political forces, citizens, to start a new phase which is called 'Lebanon and the Lebanese people', in which we are committed to the national project, with a civilised mindset." The agreement that paved the way for his election, reached in Doha on Wednesday, ended some of the worst violence since the country's 1975-1990 civil war.
Security was tight ahead of the vote, which followed 19 failed attempts to elect a president over recent months. An 18-month stalemate between the Christian, Sunni Muslim and Druze governing coalition and the pro-Syrian opposition - led by the Shia Hezbollah political and militant group - had brought the country to crisis point.
Lebanon has faced political crisis since late 2006 when the pro-Syrian opposition - led by the Hezbollah political and militant group - left a national unity coalition cabinet, demanding more power and a veto over government decisions. The army chief, who was standing unopposed, is widely seen as a trusted figure who has managed to maintain the army's neutrality among Lebanon's complex mix of factions.
The crisis turned violent two weeks ago when street battles between armed supporters of the factions left at least 65 people dead. Applause broke out in the chamber as speaker Nabih Berri announced that Gen Suleiman had won 118 votes out of 127.
The clashes were triggered by government attempts to outlaw Hezbollah's private telephone network and reassign Beirut airport's security chief, who is close to the opposition. Trumpets played and supporters waved flags in the streets, while celebratory gunfire resounded around the capital, Beirut.
Outside influence "Let us unite... and work towards a solid reconciliation," Gen Suleiman said after he was sworn in. "We have paid dearly for our national unity. Let us preserve it hand-in-hand."
In a speech seen as reaching out to both sides of Lebanon's political divide, Gen Suleiman said the country should cooperate with UN efforts to try suspects in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. 'Brotherly ties'
In a speech seen as reaching out to both sides of Lebanon's political divide, Gen Suleiman said the country should co-operate with UN efforts to try suspects in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
But he also called for "brotherly ties" with Syria and called for a "national strategic stance" so that nation could "benefit from the lessons of the resistance [Hezbollah] to serve the nation".But he also called for "brotherly ties" with Syria and called for a "national strategic stance" so that nation could "benefit from the lessons of the resistance [Hezbollah] to serve the nation".
DOHA AGREEMENT Western-backed ruling majority to get 16 cabinet seats and choose prime ministerSyrian-backed opposition to get 11 cabinet seats and veto powerThree cabinet seats to be nominated by presidentThe use of weapons in internal conflicts is to be bannedOpposition protest camps in central Beirut are to be removed New law to divide country into smaller electoral districts Q&A: Lebanon dealSend your comments
The outgoing Western-backed governing coalition had pushed for the UN tribunal and blamed Syria for Hariri's death, while correspondents say the role of Hezbollah as an armed movement is one of the most sensitive facing the new president.The outgoing Western-backed governing coalition had pushed for the UN tribunal and blamed Syria for Hariri's death, while correspondents say the role of Hezbollah as an armed movement is one of the most sensitive facing the new president.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the first hurdle facing the new president is to form a national unity government, as agreed in last week's deal, after days of talks in Qatar. The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the first hurdle facing the new president is to form a national unity government, as agreed in last week's deal after days of talks in Qatar.
DOHA AGREEMENT Western-backed ruling majority to get 16 cabinet seats and choose prime ministerSyrian-backed opposition to get 11 cabinet seats and veto powerThree cabinet seats to be nominated by presidentThe use of weapons in internal conflicts is to be bannedOpposition protest camps in central Beirut are to be removed New law to divide country into smaller electoral districts class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7412170.stm">Profile: Michel Suleiman class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7419322.stm">Tough task for new president class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7412543.stm">Q&A: Lebanon deal class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4823&edition=1">Send your comments Under the agreement, the opposition gained the power of veto in a new cabinet of national unity - over which it had walked out of the previous cabinet 18 months ago.
While the make-up of the government has been agreed, our correspondent says there will be much haggling over who gets which portfolio.While the make-up of the government has been agreed, our correspondent says there will be much haggling over who gets which portfolio.
Under the agreement, the opposition will have the power of veto in a new cabinet of national unity. Our correspondent says it was a huge relief for many Lebanese to find themselves with a new president at last, after 19 failed attempts to elect a head of state.
US President George Bush welcomed Gen Suleiman's election and said he looked forward to an "era of political reconciliation". But, he adds, Gen Suleiman comes into office with his wings somewhat clipped, after his army was humiliated by having to stand by while Hezbollah burned newspaper offices and nearly stirred up civil war in the violence which broke out two weeks ago.
At least 65 people died in clashes as Hezbollah fighters seized control of sections of Beirut in response to government attempts to outlaw the group's private telephone network and reassign Beirut airport's security chief, who is close to the opposition.
Feuding politicians
US President George W Bush welcomed Gen Suleiman's election and said he looked forward to an "era of political reconciliation".
"I am confident that Lebanon has chosen a leader committed to protecting its sovereignty, extending the government's authority over all of Lebanon, and upholding Lebanon's international obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions," Mr Bush said in statement."I am confident that Lebanon has chosen a leader committed to protecting its sovereignty, extending the government's authority over all of Lebanon, and upholding Lebanon's international obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions," Mr Bush said in statement.
Among 200 guests at the parliamentary vote were the Emir of Qatar who helped mediate the deal, as well as a US congressional delegation and the foreign ministers of Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Among 200 guests at the parliamentary vote were the Emir of Qatar, who helped mediate the Doha deal, as well as a US congressional delegation and the foreign ministers of Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY We are hopeful that the leadership of President Suleiman will bring lasting peace to Lebanon Vasudev Das, US class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4823">Send us your comments Our correspondent says these outside powers have all been involved in the proxy struggle in Lebanon, but now seem to be coming together to give their blessing to the agreement.
Our correspondents says these outside powers have all been involved in the proxy struggle in Lebanon, but now seem to be coming together to give their blessing to the agreement which ends 18 months of deadlock and rising tensions.
For months, Gen Suleiman had been accepted by all sides as the only candidate to succeed outgoing pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, but disagreements had repeatedly prevented a parliamentary vote to appoint him.For months, Gen Suleiman had been accepted by all sides as the only candidate to succeed outgoing pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, but disagreements had repeatedly prevented a parliamentary vote to appoint him.
Our correspondent says his election does not mean the military is taking over - it is more a case of feuding politicians being unable to agree on a Maronite Christian, which the president has to be, who is above the fray and acceptable all round. Our correspondent says his election does not mean the military is taking over - it is more a case of feuding politicians being unable to agree on a Maronite Christian, which the president has to be, who is acceptable all round.
Under the constitution, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is expected to head a caretaker government until a new prime minister is appointed. Under the constitution, outgoing Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is expected to head a caretaker government until a new prime minister is appointed.