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| 25/05/2008 After six month of vacancy, Lebanon elected on Sunday its President amid tight security to vote in a much-delayed parliamentary session being attended by 200 guests including Arab and Western dignitaries, following a deal hammered out Wednesday in Qatar between rival Lebanese politicians. Presidency seat has been vacant since Emile Lahoud's term ended in November, and 19 previous attempts to get lawmakers together to elect a successor failed.
General Michel Suleiman was officially declared as the president of the country with 118 votes. Of the 127 MPs who voted, six cast blank ballots and several others voted for other politicians. Parliament held two sessions Sunday afternoon – the first elected a President and the second devoted to oath-taking – and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri will set a date for another session to approve electoral law amendment.
Lebanon's new president Michel Suleiman appealed for unity as he was sworn in on Sunday in a first step towards defusing a political feud. "Let us unite... and work towards a solid reconciliation," the former army chief said after being elected by parliament. "We have paid dearly for our national unity. Let us preserve it hand-in-hand."
Celebratory shots were fired into the air and cars horns hooted as crowds of people, cheering and waving Lebanese flags, poured into the streets of Beirut and Suleiman's hometown of Amsheet.
"I call upon all of you, politicians and citizens, to start a new phase called Lebanon and the Lebanese... in order to achieve the interests of the nation," he said.
Suleiman said Lebanon's weapons should only be directed at the enemy and not elsewhere. He also said he would seek friendly relations with Syria. "We cherish our relationship with Arab countries and seek brotherly ties with Syria based on mutual sovereignty and independence," Suleiman said.
He also vowed to protect the country's constitution, sovereignty and independence and urged the Lebanese to put their differences aside to bring about a new era.
"I swear by God almighty that I will respect Lebanon's constitution and its rules and that I will protect the sovereignty of Lebanon and the security of its territory," he said. "In this new era, we will commit to a national plan ... in which the country's interests will be a priority over factional and sectarian interests."
Suleiman called for adopting a defense strategy so that accomplishments of the resistance would not get lost adding that it is important to address continued violations of its territory by Israel and to liberate the disputed Shebaa Farms territory. "The Shebaa Farms remain under occupation and because of continued threats and violations of our sovereignty by Israel, we must draw up a national defense strategy to protect the country," the new president said.
"This is a historic moment," said parliament speaker Nabih Berri. "I ask God to help you succeed in steering the Lebanese ship to a safe haven... today no-one in the world can turn Lebanon into a killing field." Berri addressed house, congratulated Suleiman for his election consensus president.
The main challenge for Sleiman, 59, will be to impose himself as a neutral figure and reconcile the ruling bloc and the national opposition. After Sleiman was sworn in, the unconstitutional government of Fouad Saniora resigned in line with the constitution but will stay on in a caretaker role.
Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and a U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Beirut to attend the election. The U.S. delegation is headed by Representative Nick Rahall, a West Virginia Democrat of Lebanese origin. The foreign ministers of Syria, Iran, Saudi, Italy and France are also among the 200 notables invited and they arrived in the Lebanese capital to witness the event. Kuwait's Parliament Speaker Jassem al-Kharafi arrived at Beirut airport and was received by Speaker Berri.
Emir of Qatar addressed the Parliament. He said the concept of no conqueror, no vanquished cannot settle disputes, adding that Lebanon emerged victorious and the internal dispute was conquered. He also said electing Suleiman is the first step of the Doha Accord that should be implemented. The resistance was important two years ago and the prevailing wisdom by the Lebanese leaders is important now, the Emir of Qatar said. He said the Arab Order emerged victorious through the Doha Accord.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr welcomed the vote. "Attaining calm and security in this country is attaining calm and security on the level of the region as a whole," said Mottaki.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner welcomed Sunday's vote, however he said, "We would have wished for things to proceed more smoothly, more democratically," Kouchner told reporters. "But this is Lebanon and we are happy nonetheless.
Suleiman is the third army chief to become president after Fouad Chehab in 1958-1964 and Lahoud, who was elected in 1998 but whose term was extended by three years under a constitutional amendment in 2004.
(manar)
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