Beirut, 2007 Nov 24, Al-Manar

By Hanan Awarekeh
 
Lebanon woke up Saturday a state without a president, an unconstitutional government and an army guarding social order with consent of the feuding parties.

President Emile Lahoud left office at midnight Friday, ending a term of nine years, with no elected successor and rivals argue over who will now take control.
 
Before he walked out, Lahoud issued a statement announcing the transfer of security responsibilities to the Lebanese Armed Forces because Parliament had failed to elect his successor.

In the statement read out by spokesperson Rafik Shalala, Lahoud said: "There are conditions and risks on the ground that could lead to a state of emergency," leading the outgoing president to hand the army responsibility for maintaining order.
 
The statement argued that the present government is illegitimate and unconstitutional and therefore incapable of assuming power in "a safe and constitutional" manner. Lahoud further instructed the army to report to the government once a "constitutional" one comes to power.
 
Just before he leaves the Presidential Palace at midnight, Lahoud was quoted as saying to the reporters: "If they do not elect a new consensual president, with the required two-thirds majority, we have men who can stand up." 

Saniora rejects Lahoud's measures

The head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora on Friday rejected the measure taken by Lahoud. A statement issued by Saniora's press office claimed the presidential measure is "not factual and not based on constitutional or legal authorities." It recalled that, constitutionally, only the ‘government’ has the authority to declare a state of emergency, subject to revision by parliament in eight days.
 
The Saniora statement claimed that Lahoud wants to allude that the nation is facing serious threats "at a time security prevails because the army maintains the nation's security and protects the people's safety."

The statement concluded by stressing that the government is both "legal and constitutional."
 
Lawmakers from the ruling bloc and the Lebanese national opposition had been scheduled to convene on Friday in a final bid to elect Lahoud's successor. But the session was postponed, for the fifth time in two months. A new vote has been scheduled for November 30.

Some Lebanese officials believe that the standoff over the presidency will be resolved only after next week's US-hosted Middle East conference.