Just a heads up. There’s a lot of chatter in the last few minutes about an AP newswire received by actual news organisations. ie, not me.
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud declared a state of emergency and ordered the army to take control less than four hours before his terms ended. (AP)
I’m trying to find something a bit more concrete, but if it’s true it is absolutely dreadful news. Why was emergency rule needed? Will Israel or Syria use it as a pretext for invasion?
Theres nothing on the news sites or TV yet, other than a few just quoting that wire. Lets hope it’s just a hoax or mistake.
7:10 pm GMT. A bit more information coming in.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIRUTPresident Emile Lahoud has ordered the army today to take over security powers in Lebanon, saying the country is in a state of emergency.
That came hours before Lahoud was stepping down without a successor and leaving the divided country in a political vacuum.
The announcement immediately raised further questions amid Lebanon’s political turmoil.
The president cannot declare a state of emergency without approval from the government, but Lahoud’s spokesman said the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora is considered unconstitutional.
Presidential spokesman Rafik Shalala says the army is instructed to preserve security all over the Lebanese territory and places all the armed forces at its disposal.
There was no immediate reaction from the Saniora government, which has been meeting at government house in Beirut as the announcement was made at the presidential palace in suburban Baabda.
I wonder how the White House will respond, given their generally forgiving response to Musharraf’s emergency rule. Of course, Lebanon isn’t a close ally in the War on Terror, so we can expect some stern words. I’m still looking for a bit more info on why martial law has been seen to be necessary. Has there been an attempted coup?