Syria backs Arab League efforts to end Lebanon deadlock
DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syria on Sunday backed Arab League chief Amr Mussa's efforts to persuade warring Lebanese political factions to agree a compromise plan allowing the election of a new president in Beirut.
"Syria is waiting for Amr Mussa to continue his efforts in Beirut, as soon as possible, within the framework proposed recently in the message by Arab foreign ministers," official news agency SANA said, quoting an unnamed foreign ministry spokesman.
"This message included a global plan for a solution to the Lebanese crisis. The plan is clear: it adopts a position in which there is neither a winner nor loser in Lebanon, and which places the country on the path to stability," added the spokesman.
Mussa left Lebanon on Saturday having failed to convince rival parties to agree on a compromise deal to elect a new president but he vowed to return on Wednesday to continue negotiations.
A 12th parliamentary session scheduled to be held on Saturday to elect a president was postponed on Friday until January 21 after parliament speaker Nabih Berri met Mussa.
The Arab initiative is based on a three-point plan calling for the election of army chief General Michel Sleiman as president, a national unity government in which no one party has veto power, and adopting a new electoral law.
It calls for the majority to hold 14 seats in the new cabinet, the opposition 10 seats and Sleiman would be able to pick six ministers, making him the arbiter in any contested decisions.
Mussa on Saturday, asked if Syria was an obstacle to a deal, said: "No, you cannot say that, really... On the Arab initiative, I think its role is positive, and we will carry on our contacts with Syria and Saudi Arabia."
Lebanon has been without a president since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud stepped down on November 24 with no elected successor because of bitter rivalry between the pro- and anti-Syrian camps.
