Visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Gheit on Thursday called on Lebanese rival leaders to adopt dialogue as a means of reaching understanding on the upcoming presidential vote, the official National News Agency reported.
He made the remarks during his meetings with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the Future bloc leader MP Saad Hariri in Beirut, said the report.
The meetings explored Egypt's possible efforts to help Lebanon hold the presidential vote on time, Abul Gheit was quoted as saying in a press briefing after the meetings.
Berri on Monday delayed a presidential election to Nov. 12, to allow more time for rival pro- and anti-government groups to agree on a compromise candidate.
It is the second postponement of the president election. On Sept. 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 Nov. 24 to replace the current President Emile Lahoud, whose mandate had been extended. Lahoud should step down on Nov. 23, in line with the constitution.
The forecast presidential event caused widespread concern among the Lebanese, fearing further disarrays and possible eruption of violence.
Source: Xinhua
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