By Xinhua
United Nations : U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Lebanon’s political leaders on Wednesday to find a solution to their tense stand-off over the election of a new president.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ban said he was extremely concerned about the continuing delay in the election of a president to succeed Emile Lahoud, noting that the postponement has now extended well past the constitutional timeframe.
He said he believes it is now time for this matter to be resolved without further delay, adding that he has been holding talks by telephone this week with Lebanon’s political leaders
Ban said he, in the past few days, has spoken to Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri and Majority Leader Saad Hariri.
He also said that he will “remain in close touch with Lebanese political leaders who bear, both to the people of Lebanon and to the future of the country, the responsibility to find a solution.”