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Last update - 00:35 19/05/2007
Hezbollah: Elections must wait until Lebanese political crisis solved
By Reuters

Presidential elections cannot be held in Lebanon until a solution is reached to the six-month old political crisis between the Hezbollah-led opposition and the ruling anti-Syrian majority, a senior Hezbollah figure said.

The term of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, extended at the behest of Damascus in 2004, expires in November.

Since last year, the country has been locked in a standoff over opposition demands for greater power and its rejection of the government's calls for an international tribunal to try suspects for the killing of ex-prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

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Mohammad Fneish, a former Hezbollah minister, told Al Hayat daily in an interview published on Friday that rival parties had to find an agreeable government formation.

"It is not feasible that this (presidential elections) happens in the midst of the current political divisions and while there is a party (ruling coalition) that is resorting to monopolising power and getting strength from external support," he said referring to U.S. support of Siniora's government.

Fneish, who along with other pro-Syrian ministers resigned from cabinet last November in protest against Siniora's refusal to give the opposition a greater say in government, added:

"If there is no real consensus on partnership, on the political future of the country and on the identity of the president, the opposition will not allow this faction (ruling coalition) from ruling the country...," he added.

The rival camps accuse each other of working to foreign agendas to the detriment of Lebanon. Hezbollah describes the cabinet as a U.S. puppet while the governing coalition says the opposition takes orders from Iran and Syria.

Lahoud has said he will not hand over his authorities to the current government, a procedural step towards the election of a new head of state. He might instead appoint a new government, leaving Lebanon with two cabinets.

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Arrested development
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  1.   Lebanese political crisis 19:23  |  Lynn 18/05/07
  2.   Hizballah - elections must wait until we can win 19:24  |  Polybios 18/05/07
  3.   NO...Elections IS a way to solve political crisis 19:28  |  Ryan 18/05/07
  4.   Destroy Iranian Military, then Hold Elections 21:18  |  Solon 18/05/07
  5.   Hizbollah and Election 22:05  |  Tarek 18/05/07
  6.   The hezbolla criminals 22:30  |  Niall 18/05/07
  7.   hisb losing again, they are a minority and will stay that way 22:39  |  Steve 18/05/07
  8.   Hezbollah losing again 22:42  |  Mathew 18/05/07
  9.   If Lahoud leave, Lebanon will become a no go zone 22:59  |  Tamir Gaza 18/05/07
  10.   27 Million Lebanese Christians 06:03  |  27 Million Lebanese 19/05/07
  11.   Cheers for "27 million christians" 18:22  |  a Christian Lebanese 19/05/07
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