Lebanon set to elect new president, all parties to reconcile

Lebanon's leaders are set to elect Michel Suleiman, the country's army chief, as president in a first step toward defusing an 18-month standoff between rival factions.

Suleiman is expected to be elected on Sunday in a parliamentary session attended by several foreign dignitaries, including Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the emir of Qatar.
Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister, and Amr Moussa, the Arab League secretary-general, will also be present.

Sueliman's election is part of a deal brokered in Doha, Qatar's capital, on Wednesday that sought to end a political crisis that last month degenerated into violence.
Sixty-five people were killed when armed supporters of the Hezbollah-led opposition took control of much of Beirut after the US-backed government moved to outlaw the group's private communications network.

Among the 200 dignitaries invited for Suleiman's election are also the foreign ministers of Syria and Iran. Also, a US congressional delegation has been invited and would be headed by Nick Rahall, a West Virginia Democratic Representative of Lebanese origin.