Lebanese mark Independence Day in gloomy mood
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BEIRUT, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- More than two hundred Lebanese gathered in the Martyrs' Square in downtown Beirut to mark the 64th anniversary of the country's Independence Day on Thursday, one day before the parliament is due to convene to elect a new president.
The small-scale ceremony is the only public pageant in Beirut on the Independence Day which was usually marked with a military parade and festivities.
The parliamentary session to pick a successor to President Emile Lahoud, whose term will end at midnight Friday, has been delayed for four times due to gaps between the ruling majority andthe opposition on a compromise candidate.
The upcoming vote scheduled on Friday is considered the last chance to defuse the political standoff which has lasted for almost a year as deadline is looming. But Lebanese people seem to be pessimistic about the session.
Eyad Fakherdeen who is taking part in the gathering told Xinhua that no one knows whether the session could be convened or not.
Worrying about the destiny of his homeland in case rival groups break out violence, the 22-year-old young man said he doesn't wantto see Lebanon returned to 1970s when the Lebanese people were plunged into a 15-year civil war.
"The leaders of Lebanese parties care the interests of their own camps, not those of Lebanon," he said, underlining that he would support a president who can protect Lebanon, no matter which group he or she hails from.
The downtown Beirut which had been bustling witnesses sporadic passersby on Thursday when all Lebanese takes a day off work, and most of the shops are shut down.
Instead, more armed vehicles and tanks are stationed at the intersections and soldiers, police and guards are on guard ever 10 meters along the street, vigilantly clapping eyes on every passerby.
More than 10,000 troops from Lebanon's various security forces have been brought into the capital to maintain order, while a similar number of rapid-response troops will be on hand for support if needed, which could bring the total number of forces onthe streets to 20,000.
At the Najema Square in downtown Beirut, a souvenir shop called "Baghdadi" is the only shop that opens.
The shopkeeper Gamal complained that the political standoff between the Western-backed majority and the pro-Syrian opposition has increased tension which in turn reduced tourists.
Asked about the elections on Friday, he said, "I don't care about the election. What I'm concerned is my business. The troubleit (presidential election crisis) brought have seriously cut down my income."
He added that his shop has to be shut down on Friday and Saturday because several blocks around the parliament building will be imposed on vehicle curfew due to security concerns.
Abdul Hamadi, 78, said that people are not interested in the elections any more so they choose to take vacation outside the capital.
"Both the ruling coalition and the opposition insist on their favorite figure, but you know, we need only one president," Hamadisaid.
"No one can predict the result of tomorrow's session as too many foreign powers are meddling in Lebanese affairs," he said, underlining that the Lebanese president should be picked by Lebanese people.
According to the country's power-sharing system, Lebanon's president must be a Maronite Christian and is elected by parliament rather than by popular votes.
A two-thirds majority is required for a candidate to be electedby parliament in a first round of voting. In the event of a secondround, a simple majority suffices.
Many fear that failure in reaching a deal on the presidential candidate could result in a power vacuum in the country or a split with two rival governments standing against one another.
