Lebanese majority backs army commander as president

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The largest bloc in Lebanon's deadlocked parliament dropped its opposition to the army chief becoming the next president, bringing Gen. Michel Suleiman one step closer to being the new head of state, a lawmaker said Wednesday. Ammar Houry, legislator from the Future Movement of Saad Hariri, said the bloc had reversed its previous stand against amending the constitution to elect a sitting army commander, opening a way to a resolution of Lebanon's year long political crisis. "We declare our acceptance to amend the constitution in order to reach consensus on the name of the army commander, Gen. Michel Suleiman," he said. Hariri is effectively the leader of Lebanon's parliamentary majority and his support is tantamount to the majority's acceptance.