Lebanon fails to elect president

Lebanese MPs have failed to convene to elect a new president as the term of the incumbent, Emile Lahoud, expires.

Members of the Western-backed majority had hoped to hold a vote, but the opposition did not allow the session to achieve the quorum needed.

The crisis has raised fears of civil strife, including the possibility of rival administrations, as happened during the 15-year civil war.

Parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said the vote would be held on November 30.

Repeated attempts to elect a new president over the past two months have been scuppered by rivalry between the factions.

The term of Lahoud ended at midnight on Friday.

Members of the ruling majority urged Lahoud to leave the presidential palace on Friday night.

""If he chooses to stay... it will be a crime against the constitution which is sanctioned by law,"" deputy speaker of parliament, Farid Makari, said, reading a statement from the ruling majority.

The tension was palpable on the streets as the crisis over electing the president came to a head, with the army deployed in force and schools closed. Check points have also been set up and the ministry of interior has suspended all firearm permits until further notice.

The election of a president requires a two-thirds majority, which means that the pro-Western ruling bloc - with its slim majority - could not force its preferred candidate through parliament.

According to Article 62 of the Lebanese constitution, if the presidency becomes vacant, presidential powers are automatically transferred to the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

However, President Lahoud has vowed not to hand over power to Siniora, and said he would name army chief General Michel Suleiman as his provisional successor instead.

The political deadlock has already led to the vote being postponed four times since September 25.

The issue has also turned into a regional and international affair.

The U.S., Russia, Syria and Iran are all intensely involved and there has been a lot of diplomatic shuttling between Damascus, Moscow, Tehran and Paris ahead of the end of Lahoud's term.