LEBANON: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit holds talks with Lebanese leaders in Beirut in an attempt to resolve the country's political crisis

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit holds talks with Lebanese leaders in Beirut in an attempt to resolve the country's political crisis. Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit held talks with Lebanese leaders on Thursday (October 25) in a fresh bid to help resolve the country's prolonged political crisis. Aboul Gheit met with President Emile Lahoud, Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri and Grand Mufti Mohammed Kabbani and is scheduled to meet other leaders throughout the day. Electing a presidential successor to pro-Syrian Lahoud is the latest obstacle in the crisis between the Hezbollah-led opposition and the government, backed by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. "This is a crucial and vital issue and it will not happen except through dialogue between people of Lebanon. This is a message of support for the Lebanese people. We stand by the Lebanese as they go through this highly difficult time," said Aboul Gheit referring to the upcoming presidential election. A parliament session to elect a president was postponed this week until November 12 to allow more time for rival leaders to agree on a consensus candidate to succeed Lahoud whose term expires on November 24, 2007. Egypt and the Arab League had previously launched initiatives to mend bridges between leaders but they all failed. Cairo's latest initiative comes only days after the foreign ministers of France, Spain, and Italy visited Lebanon to the same effect. The political crisis which began last December has all but paralysed the government and many analysts fear that failing to elect a new president could drive the country into chaos. The details of the latest Egyptian initiative have not yet been made public.

ITN Source | October 26, 2007

Tags:. .details. .grand. .france. .until. .candidate