LEBANON: French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner returns to Lebanon to continue mediation efforts two days ahead of crucial presidential vote

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner returns to Lebanon to continue mediation efforts two days ahead of crucial presidential vote. France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner continued his drive on Wednesday (November 21) to help the divided Lebanese agree on a president ahead of a parliamentary vote of Friday(November 23), that has been postponed four times so far. Leaders have to agree on a presidential candidate by Friday (November 23), which is the last day in President Emile Lahoud's term, or risk a political vacuum that could lead to rival governments and bloodshed. France has been leading the effort to push rival leaders towards a deal on the presidency, the latest move in a year-long power struggle between factions opposed to Syrian influence in Lebanon and others supported by Damascus. Kouchner, who has been shuttling between the rivals, is on his sixth visit to Lebanon since he assumed his post earlier this year. The delay prolonged a political crisis that many fear could lead to rival administrations and violence in a country still rebuilding from its 1975-1990 civil war. The army strengthened security on Tuesday(November 20) and urged people to avoid internal strife. Parliament had been due to convene on Wednesday to elect a successor to President Emile Lahoud, but Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said in a statement the vote would be delayed until Friday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy's Chief of Staff, Claude Gueant, met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus to seek support for Paris's efforts, and Sarkozy spoke to Assad by telephone, Sarkozy's office said. Berri, a key opposition figure, and majority leader Saad al-Hariri have failed to agree on any of the names for president proposed by the head of the Maronite church. But Arab League Chief Amr Moussa, who is also been holding mediation talks, said there was still hope of agreeing on a president. "I am still convinced and I think that Parliament Speaker Berri agrees with me also, that there is hope still and the efforts will continue until a consensus is reached on the name and person of the president," said Moussa following a meeting with Berri. Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system requires the head of state to be a Maronite. Political sources say the governing coalition wants member of parliament Robert Ghanem for the post while the opposition supports former minister Michel Edde. Hezbollah, a powerful member of the opposition, warned of a "catastrophic picture" without a deal. Agreement on the presidency is needed to guarantee a two-thirds quorum for the vote in parliament, where the governing coalition holds an absolute majority of just three.

ITN Source | November 22, 2007

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