The deadline was approaching for the current Lebanese President, Emile Lahoud, to leave office, as is written in the Constitution. By midnight on 23rd November, it is constitutionally required for a new President, designated by the Maronite party to be elected and to enter office. However, disagreements have been ongoing on the selection of this new president. The Constitution says that if no candidate has been chosen, then the current Prime Minister, anti-Syrian, Fouad Siniora and his cabinet should take office. However, Lahoud, upon leaving office on the 23rd, refused to recognise Siniora's government and ordered the army to take over, led by General Souleiman. It is still unclear if this meant a call for a State of Emergency. Elections are to take place on the 30th November.
On the 23rd, a friend walked around the streets of Beirut and took some photos. Here they are:
The main mosque, near the Parliament and Prime Minister's office all cealed off
Apparently, hundreds of Lebanese army soldiers were posted in the streets of Beirut, even near my house, on each street corner.
Soldiers and their vehicules infront of the main mosque near Saifi Village, one of Hariri's Solidere reconstruction projects.
Barbed wire near the Parliament. They did not even allow diplomats through! Many foreign journalists were also present to catch the latest news on the unfolding political crisis
A soldier taking a photos of his colleagues! The tension cannot really be felt here!
Just at the corner of the street in Ashrafieh, Central-East Beirut.
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