Iran, UN Call for More Unity among Lebanese Factions

(FNA)- UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly and Iranian Ambassador to Beirut Qazanfar Roknabadi voiced their full support for the reinvigoration of security and tranquility in Lebanon, and called on Beirut political parties to refrain from making unwise moves which endanger the country's stability at the present vital juncture.

Speaking at a meeting with the Iranian diplomat in Beirut on Monday, the UN official said that the international community wants a stable Lebanon and the UN will do its utmost to this end.

“Consensus among various Lebanese political blocs is of paramount significance. At this juncture, such an agreement on presidential election is of more considerable importance,” Plumbly pointed out.

Roknabadi, for his part, stated that Tehran has long been supportive of convergence among regional states and spared no effort to this goal.

“Convergence among regional countries has had a great influence on the establishment of stability in the region, including in Lebanon,” the Iranian diplomat said.

On Thursday, Lebanese lawmakers failed for a fourth time to choose a new head of state on and will try again in a week's time, only three days before President Michel Suleiman's term ends.

Any candidate would have to get support from the two main political blocs - March 8 alliance and the rival March 14 coalition - to win the necessary majority from parliament's 128 deputies.

Thursday's vote was called off after March 8 deputies boycotted the session, leaving it without the two-thirds quorum needed for the vote to go ahead.

Under the country's religion-based power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, a sect that itself is divided on its support for March 8 and March 14.

Some lawmakers from the March 14 coalition have warned that if no president is elected before Suleiman's term ends they will boycott parliament, leading to further paralysis in the country of 4 million people.

The deadlock comes two months after Prime Minister Tammam Salam ended a year-long government vacuum by winning a vote of confidence in his new cabinet.