MPs support blast victims' families as they fail again to elect a president

Parliament convened Thursday for the 11th time to elect a president, as activists and relatives of the Beirut port blast victims rallied in front of the parliament to protest the stalled probe into the blast.

Lawmaker Michel Mouawad won the support of 34 lawmakers while thirty-seven MPs cast blank votes.

Seven MPs voted for prominent historian and academic Issam khalifeh, two for former Minister Ziad Baroud, and 29 ballots were spoiled.

Some of the MPs joined the rally before entering parliament, with some of them holding pictures of the victims.

MP Qassem Hashem of the development and liberation bloc strongly reacted to the scene. "Stop exploiting the blood of the martyrs," he said, adding that "this is a national cause."

At the beginning of the session, Democratic Gathering bloc MP Hadi Abou el-Hosn said that his bloc might be forced to suspend its participation in the upcoming session if the presidential deadlock persists. He also voiced support for the families of the victims. So did Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel and MP and presidential candidate Michel Mouawad.

MP Melhem Khalaf said that he and Change MP Najat Aoun will not leave Parliament until the announcement of open consultations and sessions for electing a president.

"I am ashamed of being a parliament member," Khalaf said, as he decried the terrible situation in the country. he said that people are constantly asking him for flour, bread, milk, electricity and water.

"I am ashamed of being a member of a parliament that is unable to elect a president," he added.