Presidential Elections ... Finally a Reality
9:30pm A banquet is held at BIEL center in honor of Arab and Foreign dignitaries who were invited to attend the presidential election session.
8:59pm Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir congratulated the Lebanese on Suleiman's election and wished the new president success in his difficult job.
8:30 Baabda Presidential Palace staff prepare to welcome the president-elect in his residence for the six coming years starting tomorrow morning at 9am.
8:17pm Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal meets Saniora at the government office.
8:15pm president-elect Michel Suleiman leaves Parliament escorted by Speaker Berri.
8:13pm French President Nicolas Sarkozy congratulated Suleiman pledging France's "full support" expressing hos hope to visit Lebanon "ery soon"to strengthen ties
 8:05pm President Suleiman Meets Iran's Foreign Minister Manochaher Mottaki at Parliament.
 7:59pm German president congratulated President Suleiman expressing his country’s full support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability
 7:35pm Egyptian Foreign Minister Abul Gheit said Cairo would back the full implementation of the Doha Accord and handed over an invitation from President Mubarak to Suleiman to visit Egypt.
 7:25pm Speaker Berri met Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Aboulgheit and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal at his office in the Parliament.
 7:21pm President Suleiman and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri held a meeting at the latter's office after recieving congratulations from Arab, Foreign dignitaries and Lebanese MPs and officials.
 7:20pm British Prime Minister Gordon Brown congratulated President Suleiman for his election hoping it would be an important opportunity to safeguard Lebanon against splits.
 7:16pm The presidential palace apologized for not accepting congratulations due to presisting situation.
7:15pm Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran Saud al-Faisal and Manochaher Muttaki held a meeting at the Lebanese Parliament.
7:10pm "I congratulate Michel Sleiman on his election as president of Lebanon," U.S. President George Bush said in a statement. Adding "I am confident that Lebanon has chosen a leader committed to protecting its sovereignty, extending the government's authority over all of Lebanon, and upholding Lebanon's international obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions, including 1559, 1701, and 1757. I am hopeful that the Doha Agreement, which paved the way for this election, will usher in an era of political reconciliation to the benefit of all Lebanese. We look forward to working with President Sleiman in pursuit of our common values of freedom and independence."
6:43pm Session adjourned.
6:41pm He said the Arab Order emerged victorious through the Doha Accord.
6:39pm The resistance was important two years ago and the prevailing wisdom by the Lebanese leaders is important now, the Emir of Qatar said.
6:37pm The Emir of Qatar said electing Suleiman is the first step of the Doha Accord that should be implemented.
6:36pm The Emir of Qatar said Lebanon emerged victorious and the internal dispute was conquered.
6:34pm The Emir of Qatar said the concept of no conqueror, no vanquished cannot settle disputes.
6:31pm Emir of Qatar addresses Parliament.
6:30pm Suleiman said Lebanon adheres to U.N. Resolutions and he paid tribute to UNIFIL.
6:28pm We would not permit weapons to be pointed at any direction except the enemy, Suleiman pledged.
6:26pm Suleiman called for distinguished and balanced relations with Syria.
6:24pm Suleiman called for adopting a defense strategy so that accomplishments of the resistance would not get lost .
6:22pm Suleiman called for backing the international tribunal.
6:20pm Suleiman called for re-naturalizing immigrants.
6:17pm Elections are the essence of democracy and accepting results of elections is the essence of democracy, Suleiman added.
6:15pm Lebanon's foreign relations should support and protect its unity, Suleiman said.
6:15pm Lebanon's foreign relations should suppot and protect its unity, Suleiman said.
6:14pm Lebanon's pluralist nature should boost our march together, Suleiman said.
6:13pm Suleiman called for opening a new chapter in favor of Lebanon.
6:12pm Suleiman called for a moment of silence in respect to martyrs.
6:11pm President Suleiman addresses the nation.
6:10pm Suleiman takes oath.
6:09pm Berri issued a call to the world and the Arabs for peace for Lebanon.
6:07pm Berri expressed gratitude to the United States because it was convinced that Lebanon is not an arena for its Middle East strategy.

 6:06pm Berri asked President Suleiman to shepherd national dialogue on a defense strategy.
 6:04pm Berri said the nation's unity and its army would protect the homeland against terrorist threat.
 6:03pm Berri Paid tribute to Martyrs who fell along the March for settling the crisis.
 6:00pm Berri paid tribute to Qatar, its Emir and Prime Minister for their role in helping Lebanon.
 5:59pm Berri addresses house, congratulates Suleiman for his election consensus president.
 5:57pm Berri Opens Presidential Oath session.
 5:56pm Suleiman and Berri enter Parliament Hall.
 5:54pm President-elect Michel Suleiman accompanied by Berri arrived at star square near Parliament's Gate to a red carpet welcome.
 5:50pm The Emir of Qatar arrived at parliament.

5:33pm Michel Suleiman declared President with 118 votes, six MPs abstained, one MP voted for Nassib Lahoud, one MP voted nfor Jean Obeid and one MP voted for Rafik Hariri and Martyrs.
5:27pm Ballot counting starts.
5:25pm voting ends with 127 MPs casting their ballots, Berri announced.
5:18pm Voting starts.
5:15pm Berri announced that the only candidate is Gen. Michel Suleiman and read out voting rules.
5:13pm MP George Adwan of the Lebanese Forces Party also expressed reservation over the election process adopted by Berri.
5:11pm MP Nayla Mouawad expressed reservation over the election mechanism adopted by Berri.
5:09pm Berri responded by saying the election process is fully constitutional.
5:07pm MP Hussein Husseini addressing Berri and the house to outline his demand for a constitutional amendment prior to electing Gen. Suleiman president.
5:05pm MP Harb addressing Speaker Berri and the house, explaining his objection to the election process without amending the constitution.

5:00pm The Presidential elections session is convened.
4:52pm Premier Saniora and his cabinet ministers arrived in parliament.
4:47pm Mp Saad Hariri arrived at parliament.
4:43pm Hizbullah MPs arrived in parliament.
4:31pm MP Butros Harb said what is happening today is a political compromise at the expense of the constitution.
4:30pm Most majority MPs have arrived at Parliament.
4:25pm Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisalm flew into Beirut.
4:15pm Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem arrives in Beirut.
2:55pm The Emir of Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa arrived in Beirut to attend the presidential elections session.
 2:48pm The vatican envoy arrived in Beirut.
 2:46pm Al-Kharafi said efforts would be exerted to shepherd success of the Doha Accord.
 2:35pm Arab and Western delegations have arrived successively to attend the presidential elections.
 2:30pm Kuwait's Parliament Speaker Jassem al-Kharafi arrived at Beirut airport and was received by Speaker Nabih Berri.
 2:15pm The Education Minister declared Monday a normal working day for all schools and universities.
1:14pm Geagea said the Doha Accord's major accomplishment is that it did not include any reference of the resistance.
1:12pm Geagea said the Lebanese government should have the sole control over weapons.
1:10pm Suleiman Franjieh is the main beneficiary from the 1960 law, Geagea said.
1:08pm Geagea said he has full confidence in the Christians' public opinion.
1:04pm Geagea accused Aoun of sacrificing Christian interests in favor of Hizbullah.
1:02pm Geagea said Hizbullah walked out on Aoun and deserted him in Doha, which forced him to accept the accord and back Suleiman's election.
1:01pm Geagea accused Syria's allies of implementing a scheme to split the Christians.
12:59pm Geagea said he hopes the new cabinet would be formed without facing obstacles.
12:58pm The Lebanese Forces would remain within the framework of the March 14 alliance, Geagea said.

 12:55pm Geagea said the Lebanese Forces would take part in the presidential election session and would vote for Suleiman.
 12:54pm Geagea said electing Suleiman president without amending the constitution is a non-constitutional practice.
 12:53 Geagea starts Press conferenece.
 12:26pm. The Italian foreign minister arrived in Beirut.
 12:20pm LBC: Arab League chief Amr Moussa will be visiting Damascus on Monday to discuss with Syrian officials latest developments in the region.
 12:15pm The road between Yarze and Karantina will be totally closed to traffic as of 4 pm today.
 12:10pm LBC: The Baabda-Damascus highway will be closed to traffic as of 4 pm today due to presidential elections.
 11:45am Tunisian foreign minister arrived in Beirut.
 11:18am Al Manar: Iran's foreign minister will head straight from Beirut airport to the tomb of slain Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh.
 11:14am Arrangements were done in Amsheet to celebrate the election of Gen. Michel Suleiman.
 11:10am The U.S. congressional delegation arrived at Beirut airport
 10:40am LBC: Six U.S. Democratic and Republican congressmen are likely to attend Sunday's presidential elections session.
8:35am Parliament will hold two sessions today – the first to elect a President and the second to be devoted to oath-taking – and Berri will set a date for another session to approve electoral law amendment.
8:30am Al Anwar: Hizbullah may not participate in the next government and Aoun insists on getting the justice or finance ministries.
8:20am Brig. Gen. Wadih al-Ghafri has been appointed head of the presidential guards and Col. Hasan Karim assistant to presidential guards chief.
8:15am The government has not been officially invited to Sunday's session, but Berri has invited Saniora as a guest like other former prime ministers and the same goes to the rest of the ministers.
8:00am Gen. Michel Suleiman arrives at the presidential palace at 9:00 am on Monday where he will start parliamentary consultations in a bid to name the new prime minister, who in turn will hold his own consultations in order to form the next cabinet.
7:30am Al Hayat: Meetings between Arab and European officials with Lebanese leaders started Saturday evening and will continue Sunday.
7:00am Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea will hold a press conference in Maarab at 12:30 pm
6:30am An Nahar: Consultations are still underway among the ruling majority to decide whether to nominate Saniora or Hariri as Lebanon's next prime minister, provided Hariri is responsible for the final decision in this regard.
6:00am Lebanese flags flutter across all districts so as posters of Gen. Michel Suleiman to welcome his election as President.