Lebanon's PM Seeks to Allay Fears of Political Vacuum

[Sunite]

Lebanon's PM Seeks to Allay Fears of Political Vacuum
By VOA News
24 November 2007
   

Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora (file photo)
Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Siniora (file photo)

Lebanon's pro-Western Prime Minister, Fuad Siniora, is seeking to quell fears of a power vacuum, following the departure from office of his rival, pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, without a successor.

Mr. Siniora said Saturday his government will continue to function according to the constitution. He added that its main goal is to complete the presidential election process.

The Lebanese parliament failed once again to appoint a new head of state Friday. Before leaving office, Mr. Lahoud declared a state of emergency and ordered the army to take charge of the nation's security. He stepped down as head of state at midnight (2200 UTC, Friday), when his term expired.

Mr. Siniora said there is no need for a state of emergency in Lebanon, and he emphasized that the army would continue to patrol the streets to maintain security.

There have been no reports of unrest in the capital, Beirut.

The United States and the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are urging Lebanon's political factions to maintain calm and promote security for Lebanon's citizens.

Lebanese political leaders scheduled another presidential vote in parliament for November 30.

Parliament's presidential election has been postponed five times already, in an attempt to find a consensus choice as head of state acceptable to both Lebanon's pro-Western governing coalition and the pro-Syrian, Hezbollah-led opposition.

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt says he spoke with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri about postponing Friday's parliamentary session in order to preserve peace between the rival factions. Jumblatt is a key member of the pro-Western coalition, and Berri is a leader of Lebanon's pro-Syrian, Hezbollah-led opposition.

Failure to elect a new president on time could leave two rival governments battling for control, similar to the situation near the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990.

The U.S. State Department issued an advisory Friday, warning U.S. citizens in Lebanon of the possibility of demonstrations and unrest.