Preparations Under Way for Constitutional Amendment

Lebanese MPs are reportedly preparing a petition requesting an amendment of Article 49 of the constitution to allow the election of army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman.

 

The daily An Nahar said Saturday the petition, which will be signed by 10 MPs, was welcomed by Saad Hariri, leader of the biggest parliamentary bloc.

 

It said Hariri assured Speaker Nabih Berri that he supports any “way out” of the political stalemate.

 

An Nahar said the petition, if approved, will have to go to cabinet for endorsement, a move that could face obstacles since Berri and the opposition do not recognize Prime Minister Fouad Saniora”s government.

 

It said Berri authorized MP Robert Ghanem to prepare a study on a constitutional amendment mechanism.

 

An Nahar uncovered that a meeting in Ain al-Tineh between the Hizbullah and Amal commands took place Thursday evening in a bid to reach a united stance toward Suleiman”s election.

 

An Nahar quoted Berri as saying during the meeting that it is not in the interest of the Shiites to face up to Suleiman”s election.

 

Meanwhile, Central Bank governor Riad Salameh said he was ready for the presidency if the feuding sides agreed on him.

 

An Nahar said observers believed Salameh”s stance opened the possibility that he could become a presidential front runner again if constitutional hurdles prevented Suleiman”s election.