By NNN-KUNA
Beirut : The Lebanese cabinet regretted the decision made earlier Monday by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to postpone the presidential vote, slated for Tuesday, to March 25.
The cabinet held a meeting here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Fuad Al-Siniora to discuss the situation in Lebanon in general and Berri’s decision, Minister of Information Ghazi Al-Aridi told reporters following the meeting.
The meeting probed the results of recent contacts aimed to implement the Arab initiative for Lebanon and the obstacles facing naming of army chief General Michel Suleiman as the new head of state.
The postponement of the presidential vote kept the presidential post vacant days ahead of the Arab Summit, due in Damascus, on March 29, the minister said.
The Lebanese parliament cannot vote on a new head of state without reaching a deal beforehand between the two rival camps that will secure a quorum for the vote.
The parliament was scheduled to convene a meeting on Tuesday but had to put off the meeting for the 16th time, since September, 2007, due to lack of a breakthrough.