Berri Urges Ambassadors Not to Interfere in Presidential Vote

Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday called on the ambassadors of Arab and foreign states not to interfere in the upcoming presidential election, which is supposed to be held before May 25.

“Foreign ambassadors must not interfere in this election and must leave a chance to 'Lebanonize' it and allow it to take its course,” National Media Council chief Abdul Hadi Mahfouz quoted Berri as saying after he met the speaker in parliament.

“There is openness at the regional level, especially between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and this will reflect positively on Lebanon," Berri added.

He said the recent appointment of a Saudi ambassador to Iran was a “positive indication” in this regard.

Separately, Mahfouz said he asked Berri to push for the approval of a “unified press law” and that the speaker promised to exert efforts to that end.

A parliamentary delegation formed by Berri announced Monday that all parliamentary blocs promised to attend the first parliamentary session to elect a new president, which the speaker is expected to schedule "between April 15 and April 30."

The constitutional timeframe to elect a successor to President Michel Suleiman began on March 25, amid the president's refusal of any extension of his term -- which ends May 25.

Until the moment, only Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has officially nominated himself for the presidency.

Y.R.