By Xinhua
Beirut : Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is on tours to Europe and Arab countries lobbying support for a new round of dialogue among Lebanese rival groups, in afresh attempt to solve the current political crisis, local Al Balad daily reported Wednesday.
Berri who leaves Paris for Italy on Wednesday is expected to meet with senior officials at the Vatican to discuss the Lebanese problem, the daily added.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Central News Agency quoted an opposition source as saying that Berri, a Syrian-backed opposition leader, will visit Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Arab countries as soon as he wraps up his visit to Europe.
Berri has said he would invite rival Lebanese leaders for direct talks if an Arab summit in Syria failed to find a solution to the country’s political deadlock.
But Pro-government Future TV on Tuesday quoted sources from the ruling coalition as ruling out any success of Berri’s “dialogue initiative,” stressing the importance of implementing the Arab initiative.
Lebanon is currently facing the most serious political deadlock since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, the presidential seat has been vacant since Nov. 24 of 2007 when former President Emile Lahoud stepped down. A long-awaited parliamentary session to elect a new president to succeed Lahoud has been postponed for the 17th time from March 25 to April 22.
The presidency deadlock deepened the Lebanese political crisis as fears are mounting that failure in reaching a deal on the presidential candidate could result in more violence in the country.