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Last update - 09:09 26/05/2008 New Lebanon President lauds Hezbollah, but eyes its disarmament By The Associated Press Tags: Hezbollah, Syria, Israel  Lebanon's parliament elected a new president Sunday, taking a step to stabilize the country after a long, violent political crisis and ushering in a shift in the balance of power in favor of Iranian-backed Hezbollah. The election of army chief Michel Suleiman brought palpable relief to ordinary Lebanese who feared in recent weeks that their country was in danger of breaking up in another civil war. Celebratory gunfire reverberated across the capital Beirut as the election was announced in the early evening. Glittering fireworks lit the night sky over downtown Beirut a couple hours later as cars formed motorcades and honked their horns. Advertisement One motorcade was adorned with fluttering Qatari flags and pictures of the emir of Qatar, who brokered the deal last week that ended an 18-month political deadlock between the Hezbollah-led opposition and the Western-backed government. "I call on you all, people and politicians, for a new beginning," Suleiman said after he was sworn in. "Let us be united," he said in a speech that was repeatedly interrupted by applause. "The people have given us their confidence to fulfill their aspirations, not to afflict them with our petty political disputes," he added. Political bickering prevented parliament from electing a president 19 times, leaving the country without a president for six months since Emile Lahoud left office in November. Suleiman's election is the first tangible step in the deal to end the political crisis which erupted this month into the worst violence since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war. The Arab-mediated deal reached in Doha, Qatar was a major victory for Hezbollah and its allies, who got their long-standing demand for veto power over all government decisions. The Shi'ite militant group won that concession after it demonstrated its military power earlier this month. Gunmen overran large parts of Muslim west Beirut after the government tried to rein Hezbollah in. The show of force gave Hezbollah new political leverage and it is now reaping the spoils of clashes that left 67 dead. With the president's election, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's cabinet automatically dissolved, though Suleiman asked him to stay on as caretaker until a new prime minister and government is named. The outgoing government and the opposition have agreed to form a new unity government. The majority will choose the prime minister but will have to seek consensus with Hezbollah on key decisions and appointments. Hezbollah's ascendancy is a setback for the U.S. which had strongly backed the Lebanese government for three years and is concerned that Iran's influence is spreading in the Middle East. Nevertheless, the U.S. welcomed the developments in Lebanon and its diplomats and visiting Congressmen attended Suleiman's election. "I am hopeful that the Doha Agreement, which paved the way for this election, will usher in an era of political reconciliation to the benefit of all Lebanese," President George W. Bush said in a statement. Suleiman, who as president has limited influence over government policy, faces a difficult challenge in unifying the rival factions as the country's political leadership comes to grips with a more potent Hezbollah. Suleiman was a compromise candidate agreed upon by the government coalition and opposition and in his first speech as president, he offered words to comfort both sides. He praised Hezbollah's fight against Israel but also said there needs to be a dialogue over the future of its arsenal, a key majority demand. He called for a close relationship with neighboring Syria, a major state supporter of Hezbollah which dominated Lebanon for almost three decades. But he also backed the international tribunal to try killers of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a position aligned with that of the majority, which accuses Syria of killing him. Israeli officials were skeptical that the international probe into Hariri's killing has not amassed enough evidence to convict Syrian officials of the murder. Syria has denied the claim, and the divisive issue sparked the political crisis 18 months when opposition ministers resigned. On Lebanese streets the mood was festive, a collective sigh of relief that the country has, at least for now, dodged a sectarian war. Red-and-white Lebanese flags and pictures of the new president were everywhere. He will be the savior. He is the hope for the future, said Amer Eido as he watched the fireworks in downtown Beirut. All the people are placing hopes on him and, God willing, he will bring prosperity, the 29-year-old businessman said. The economic situation is bad and we need political stability in order for the economy to improve and hopefully President Michel Suleiman will bring that. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the Lebanese in a statement. The secretary-general hopes that today's historic event leads to the revitalization of all of Lebanon's constitutional institutions and a return to political dialogue within this framework, U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said. Beirut's once-vibrant downtown had become a virtual ghost town because of an opposition sit-in there over the past 17 months. But over the weekend, it was coming back to life as restaurants and shops reopened and streets filled once again with strolling pedestrians. Politicians are speaking optimistically about foreign investment and foreign tourists returning and injecting a much-needed boost into the economy. Suleiman's election in itself is a solution to the Lebanese crisis, said Hassan Ayyoub, a 20-year-old university student. Heading with two friends to downtown Beirut late Sunday, he said he was confident the election will lure tourists and investors back to the country and consolidate security and stability. But Jihad Nasrallah, a 22-year-old university student, was among the few who think more trouble lies ahead. Suleiman's election gives the country a truce until next year's parliamentary elections after which the situation will blow up again, he predicted. In Suleiman's hometown of Aamchit on the Mediterranean coast in the Christian heartland north of Beirut, church bells tolled, several thousand broke out in cheers and danced in the main square as they watched the vote on a giant screen. Many waved Lebanese flags or those of Christian political parties in the fishing town. A group dressed in traditional baggy pants beat drums as others performed a sword folk dance. Huge pictures of the new president, who must be a Christian under Lebanon's traditional power-sharing formula, towered over the town's main square and banners praised him. Residents of the town slowed down traffic and distributed a white rose and Arabic baklava sweets to motorists who honked in approval as patriotic music blared from loudspeakers. He is a symbol of the unity of Lebanon because he led the army, said Najwa Bishara, a young woman who said came by bus to Aamchit with other youths from the north to celebrate. Security officials said five people were wounded in and near Suleiman's hometown by stray bullets. In nearby regions, where Shiites are a minority, mosque minarets blared Quranic verses in a show of unity. The relief was also evident in parliament, where political rivals smiled and shook hands, sitting together in the chamber to vote for the first time in 1 years. Foreign ministers of regional rivals Saudi Arabia, which backs the outgoing government, and opposition supporters Iran and Syria attended, as did the emir of Qatar. Later, the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers met. At the height of the crisis, the two countries had traded heated accusations over Lebanon Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Shampoo' meets 'Munich' New Adam Sandler film stars Mossad hit man turned hairdresser. Rehab (live) Report: Singer Amy Winehouse is to undergo drug rehab in Israel.   1.   Israel fights wars to get land, now Israel will 03:15  |  Wendy 26/05/08   2.   hezbollah is lebanon national security asset... 05:49  |  bashar 26/05/08   3.   No Basahr, don`t mess with us (like you always have) 06:02  |  Dan 26/05/08   4.   Lebanon Says Sayonara to US backed Siniora 06:21  |  Johan Odin 26/05/08   5.   Lebanese are cowards who sold out to Syria and Iran. 06:25  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/05/08   6.   White roses and baklava sweets. 06:44  |  Maureen Ann 26/05/08   7.   Hezbollah won another round-However 06:48  |  Ron 26/05/08   8.   Wacky Wendy 06:50  |  Tex 26/05/08   9.   Bashar: Ain`t No Party Like The Party Of G-d 06:52  |  Tex 26/05/08   10.   weapons and political stupidity 07:06  |  Yosef Eytan 26/05/08   11.   outsider 07:53  |  Di, the doubter 26/05/08   12.   hezbollah&isreal 08:07  |  salman 26/05/08   13.   "tyranny" in lebanon 08:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/05/08   14.   "guns" in Lebanon 08:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/05/08   15.   rule by "consensus" in Lebanon 08:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/05/08   16.   SENIORA OUTSMARTS OLMERT 08:51  |  FOOFOO 26/05/08   17.   The Lebanese state cannot live side by side with a Hizbullah... 09:08  |  Jean Van Daem 26/05/08   18.   Army Chief Victory To Evil Hezbolla 09:39  |  Khaled 26/05/08   19.   Next should be the election of Michel Aoun as P.M. 10:06  |  sandra chitayat 26/05/08   20.   DId you hear? 10:10  |  Paul 26/05/08   21.   Diplomacy equals supporting terrorism? 13:01  |  Ira Piltz 26/05/08   22.   Johan Odin 14:03  |  Walid 26/05/08   23.   Sandra Chitayat 14:23  |  Walid 26/05/08   24.   Israel prefers tame American dogs as Arab leaders 14:38  |  Natallie Durson 26/05/08   25.   #24 the strange reasoning of nutullie and lunacy 15:14  |  victor hardman 26/05/08

Read & React Report: Carter says Israel has 150 nuclear weapons Responses: 105 Anaysis / Price of quiet in Lebanon is Hezbollah in power Responses: 30 Shin Bet chief: Hamas threat increasing Responses: 30 U.S. professor gives Israeli prize money to Palestinian university Responses: 77 Rosner's Domain Explaining Hagee's Holocaust remarks Poll: Peace between Israel & Syria? Should American Jews Embrace Living Double Lives? Rosner's Guests: can "decisive victory" against guerilla achieved? Blame the Israel Lobby for Clinton's loss? (WTR) More Headlines 15:02 Sources: Major progress in Hezbollah-Israel talks over missing IDF soldiers 13:21 Report: Carter says Israel has 150 nuclear weapons 13:54 Olmert: Only those hallucinating think we'll keep post-'67 borders 11:57 Shin Bet chief: Hamas rocket threat from Gaza is mounting 13:39 Farmers on Gaza border block goods into Strip to protest rocket fire 13:43 Palestinians reject Israeli offer to hand over 91.5% of W. Bank 13:45 U.S. prof. gives Israeli prize money to Palestinian university 14:23 ANALYSIS / Gaza truce appears to be inching farther away 11:02 Israel: UNIFIL is ignoring Hezbollah violations in south Lebanon 09:48 Netanyahu, on Syria talks: Peace with dictatorial state won't last 14:31 21-year-old confesses to murder of his father in J'lem home 09:09 New Lebanon President lauds Hezbollah, but eyes its disarmament Previous Editions Select Day 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may

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