Suleiman Ready to Head Transitional Government If
No New President is Elected
Army Commander General Michel Suleiman is willing to head a transitional government if parliament failed to elect a new head of state before President Emile Lahoud's term in office runs out in November, provided all sides accept his nomination.
Former Defense Minister Albert Mansour, who proposed the idea of heading a transitional government personally to Suleiman, told The Daily Star that the army chief agreed to lead such a cabinet in the event a new president is not agreed upon.

"Such a government would be in keeping with established practice, which is for a president to hand over power to a Maronite prime minister. It happened twice before," Mansour said.

He said being appointed prime minister of a transitional government would allow Suleiman to bypass constitutional requirements that prevent grade-one civil servants like Suleiman from being elected to the presidency while still in their post or within two years of their resignation.

A visit by Suleiman to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir last week took on a great significance.

Suleiman on Monday stressed that "I will stay in my post as commander of the army until a new president is elected and a new government is formed."

"Is it possible to leave command of this ship while it is facing such high waves?" Suleiman asked.

He expressed hope that Lebanese leaders would return to applying the "spirit and text" of the Taif Accord.

Suleiman also hoped that the leaders would make "reciprocal concessions."