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Dubai: A new era of uncertainty began in Lebanon on Saturday as outgoing President Emile Lahoud issued a vague decree giving the army sweeping powers.
The order virtually placed the divided country under the control of the armed forces and sidelined the government of Fouad Siniora which rejected the move as “unconstitutional”.
Lahoud left the presidential palace vacant at midnight (2200 GMT) after parliament failed to find a successor.
Lebanon, which failed to elect a new president by last night’s constitutional deadline, is faced with “clear and present dangers” against its “unity, security and safety,” Lahoud said in a statement read by an aide.
“The president hence declares that there are conditions [that could lead to] a state of emergency,” the statement said.
Therefore, “the president instructs the army to take charge of the security of Lebanon,” the aide said.
Rival political parties could not agree on a consensus candidate to replace Lahoud, who left the presidency this morning.
The president is elected by the parliament, but yesterday’s last-hope session was postponed by Speaker Nabih Berri to next Friday after the opposition lawmakers boycotted the session.
For more than a month the two rival camps, the ruling 14 March coalition, backed by the West, and its Hezbollah opponents remained deadlocked over a new president despite diplomatic efforts led by France. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters on Thursday that the Siniora government would be in charge when Lahoud leaves office to fill the power vacuum.
US urges calm
But Lahoud has said he would not hand over executive powers to the Cabinet since he does not recognise the Siniora government after the resignation last year of all five Shiite Cabinet ministers. Lahoud’s decree implied that the Siniora government was dissolved and the army, led by the popular commander General Michel Sulaiman, should present “whatever measures it has taken to a new national unity government”. He didn’t specify how this government would be formed.
The Siniora government immediately rejected the decree as “unconstitutional”, but Lahoud’s statement said his decree was “in line with the constitutional” powers of the president.
“Lahoud’s statement is unconstitutional and worthless,” an unnamed Cabinet source was quoted by Arab TV stations as saying.
The Cabinet remained in emergency session well into early morning. The army has yet to comment but the reaction of the Cabinet suggests that Lebanon is headed toward yet another conflict.
Minutes after Lahoud’s declaration, the Bush administration issued a statement urging all parties in Lebanon to remain calm and refrain from violence.
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