Lahoud for a Government to Assume the President's Powers
President Emile Lahoud called Thursday for consensus between the various factions to elect a new head of state or the formation of a new government to assume the president's powers when his term expires on Nov. 24.

"If the Lebanese fail to elect a new president by consensus and a two-third quorum, the exit will be a government that would assume the president's powers, that is a government accepted by both sides," Lahoud said.

"Electing a president by simple majority will lead to a major problem," the state run National News Agency (NNA) quoted Lahoud as saying.

He accused those seeking to elect a president by simple majority of trying to "stir productive chaos."

He was commenting on a threat by Druze leader Walid Jumblat that the Mach 14 majority alliance would elect a president by simple majority to succeed Lahoud whose extended term expires on Nov. 24.