Lebanese Parliament fails anew to elect president

BEIRUT, July 23 (KUNA) -- The Lebanese Parliament failed at a scheduled session on Wednesday to elect a new president for the republic due to lack of a quorum -- thus the top post has remained vacant since two months ago when the former president Michel Sulaiman's term expired.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced adjourning the parliamentary session on August 12 to try hold new polls to choose the president.
The Lebanese Constitution stipulates that 86 MPs out of the 128 lawmakers must be present at the session to elect a new president to serve a six-year mandate -- non-renewable.
The parliament had held two previous sessions to try elect a new president but the bids failed due to lack of a quorum, amid bickering among the political parties as to the responsibility of keeping the nation without the head of the state. (end) wsm.rk