Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin.

"Lebanese President Emile Lahoud's mandate expired on November 24, and he left office. The parliament, which, in line with the constitution, has to elect the head of state, has failed to reach an agreement on a candidate for the new presidency. As a result, the session of the Chamber of Deputies, which was scheduled for November 23 and which had been postponed three times before that, did not take place again because of the lack of the quorum of two thirds of parliamentarians," Kamynin said.

"Moscow viewed this development of the situation with regret and deep concern," he said.

"We are once again calling on all Lebanese figures to show themselves as wise statesmen and realize their responsibility for the future of their people. We are sure that the Lebanese themselves are capable of overcoming this serious ordeal with honor if nobody interferes in their affairs," he said.

"We are sure that the priority now is to avoid open confrontation, not to mention one involving the use of force, and continue to look for as broad consensus in line with the Lebanese constitution as possible. This is the only way to preserve Lebanon's political independence, sovereignty, and unity and save it from the replay of civilian strife, which would be pernicious to the country and the entire region," Kamynin said. va rp