Lebanon's presidential election is delayed to November 12, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said in a statement on Monday.

 

The postponement was in light of a tacit agreement between the Hezbollah-led opposition and the ruling parliament majority to give more time for consensus on a candidate, according to Berri.

 

On Sunday, Berri said that he was considering rescheduling the session, which had been scheduled on October 23, for the first 10 days of November.

 

Earlier, local media also reported that Lebanon's parliamentary session set for Tuesday to elect a new president of the nation might probably be postponed again till November.

 

It is the second postponement in electing a president. On September 25, a scheduled parliament session for the voting was delayed by Speaker Berri as a required two-thirds quorum was not met.

 

Lebanon has been in political impasse since six pro-Syrian ministers quit the cabinet last November as a result of power struggle between rival parliament majority and opposition blocs.

 

Lebanese Lawmakers have to choose a presidential candidate before November 24 to replace the current President Emile Lahoud, whose mandate had been extended. Lahoud should step down on November 23, in line with the constitution.

 

The forecast presidential event caused widespread concern among the Lebanese, fearing further disarrays and possible eruption of violence.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2007)