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White House Tells Lebanon, Pick a Prez!

Posted Dec 15, 07 2:13 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – Washington pressed Lebanon today to pick a new president after the office has been left empty for three weeks, the AP reports. The Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch said the election would “restore dignity and respect to the most important Christian office." Lebanese lawmakers will meet on Monday try to try to pick a new prez, but analysts expect little progress.

If the next president will be army chief Michel Suleiman—who is backed by the anti-Syrian majority, and Hezbollah-led opposition—Lebanon must first pass a constitutional amendment to let the army head be president. It must also overcome weeks of wrangling and accusations between factions, which have already tried to agree on a new president eight times.

Source Associated Press

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Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch, left, listens to Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, right, the head of the influential Christian Maronite community, at Bkirki, northeast of Beirut,...   (Associated Press)
Army chief, Gen. Michel Suleiman, center, sits between Laudi Hajj, left, the wife of slain Maj. Gen. Francois Hajj, and his son Elie, right, during the funeral mass at the Maronite Catholic basilica of...   (Associated Press)
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the U.S. Embassy compound in Aukar northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday May 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Hussein...   (Associated Press)
A shop's window in a Christian neighborhood of Beirut is decorated with a Christmas poster reading 'Santa for President', flouting the Lebanese presidential elections, 13 December 2007. According to local...   (Getty Images)
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch, left, gestures as he speaks with Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, right, at the Government House in Beirut, Lebanon Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007....   (Associated Press)
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