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Man alone

The army chief has lent Sunday oath before MPs who were elected at the head of Lebanon. If this election restart Lebanon after 18 months of political crisis, the new president is no less a man alone. The mission he had to accept, and which he has been preparing his name was called to replace another general, the pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud is to begin the reconciliation between two deeply divided camps: the anti-Syrian majority, backed by the West and Saudi Arabia, and the opposition led by Hezbollah, an ally of Iran and Syria. That was the gist of his first speech:

"I call you, politicians and citizens, to start a new phase called Lebanon and the Lebanese, to realize the interests of the nation," he said.

The election of Michel Sleiman, the 127 by 118 deputies, is expected to end 18 months of political crisis. While Lebanon was without a president since November 2007 she was made possible by the signing on May 21 in Doha, an agreement negotiated by Qatar last minute to pull the country out of crisis.

An audience of foreign dignitaries attended the election, including the head of the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. The vote was place under very high protection, with troops deployed around the parliament in downtown Beirut, and snipers posted on rooftops.

To welcome this election, the country was decked Sunday of Lebanese flags and portraits of General Suleiman. The small town of Amchit, which originates General Suleiman, was jubilant. Gunfire echoed through the streets of Beirut ... but with joy!

General made figure of a man of consensus

The anti-Syrian majority and the opposition agreed conducted for several months on behalf of General Suleiman, a man of consensus remained away from political and religious rivalries. But the struggle over the formation of a unity government, claimed by the opposition, prevented the election.

This election began the revival of the country's institutions, undermined by the crisis, by violence and by the series of bombings that targeted anti-Syrian bloc since 2004. The violence of early May, who took the turn in Beirut clashes between Sunni Muslim, pro-government militants and Shiite opposition, have also left traces, suggesting a reconciliation difficult.

For weapons, the opposition, composed of Shiites and part Christians, has been successful on his main claim, a blocking minority in the future government. It will occupy 11 out of 30 portfolios, where Slimane will have only 3, and will use the veto to impose its will on serious decisions, such as those relating to state security. Hezbollah, the only Lebanese militia army officially yet, fate even win twice, since the issue of its disarmament has not been put on the table.

soon elected president, the current government, headed by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, has resigned de facto. Consultations have begun to form government that will lead the country toward general elections in spring 2009.