Military on High Alert in Absence of Consensus Ahead of Midnight Presidential Election Deadline
Hundreds of Lebanese army troops and police deployed on Friday in an around Beirut to prevent chaos that could occur if Parliament failed to elect a President by a midnight deadline.
Army troops in tanks, armored personnel carriers and jeeps set up checkpoints along road intersections leading to the capital and the suburbs and around downtown Beirut where Parliament building is located, sealing off large areas to motorists.
The military and police were put on alert for the past several days with leaves canceled and permits to civilians to bear arms put on hold. Security at key government buildings was also reinforced.
The failure to elect a president could plunge the nation into further turmoil. Nevertheless, the feuding camps have been exerting efforts to prevent a further deterioration as it appeared that each side was waiting for the other to make the first step.
The pan-Arab newspaper Al Hayat said Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman had briefed both Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and House Speaker Nabih Berri of the security measures to be enforced in the absence of a vote by midnight Friday and in light of what outgoing President Emile Lahoud would say in his farewell message to the Lebanese.
Al Hayat said Lahoud is expected to authorize the military to maintain peace and order.
Despite a stalemate between Saniora”s government and the Hizbullah-led opposition, the majority decided to go ahead with the session even though a required two-thirds quorum for the first round of voting was expected to be lacking.