Lebanese elections set to begin May 29
Government wins confidence vote
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- The new government of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati won a confidence vote Wednesday in parliament, clearing the way for elections to be held in May, government officials said.
The office of the interior minister announced that elections would begin May 29 -- the first since Syrian troops and intelligence personnel left the country after a nearly 30-year presence.
Mikati's new government got 109 confidence votes, one no-confidence vote and three abstentions.
Parliament also voted to extend its own term to June 20.
Mikati had pledged to hold elections before the conclusion of the legislature's term. "Our hands are extended to agree on any election law. We have only one condition: to abide by the constitutional deadline (for elections)," The Associated Press quoted Mikati as telling parliament. "We will not hesitate to carry out this constitutional requirement on time."
Tuesday, Syria completed its troop withdrawal from Lebanon with farewell ceremonies in the Bekaa Valley.
Syrian army Chief of Staff Gen. Ali Habib defended his country's nearly three-decade stay, saying Lebanon was being left a stronger nation.
"It goes without saying that Syrian armed forces didn't enter Lebanon because they wanted to, but because of a call from the Lebanese government," Habib said. "Syria never had any desires or ambitions in Lebanon except to preserve its unity."
Syrian forces controlled much of the country's affairs for 29 years, but pressure came for them to withdraw after former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated Feb. 14 in a car bombing.
Many Lebanese people blamed Damascus for the killing, which sparked massive demonstrations calling for Syria to leave the nation.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has dispatched a team to verify Syria's withdrawal.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
