Lebanon nears deadline for new leader
Nov 23,2007 00:00 by UPI


Lebanon's political system mandates the country have a Sunni prime minister, a Shiite parliamentary speaker and a Christian president.

The stalemate in parliament over selecting a successor for Lahoud is viewed as the worst crisis since the country's 15-year-long civil war.

On one side is a coalition around the U.S.-backed government while on the other is an alliance between Hezbollah and Christian followers of a former general, the Post said.

Lahoud said he could name the head of the army as caretaker leader in the event a compromise isn't reached by the midnight Friday deadline.
