Lebanon fails to elect new president for 12th time

BEIRUT, June 15: The Lebanese parliament on Wednesday failed to elect a new president for the republic during its 12th session, plunging the country into further political uncertainty.

In the presidential race, Sleiman Frangieh, leader of the Marada Movement who was supported by the two Shiite parties Hezbollah and Amal Movement, trailed behind his main rival Jihad Azour, a former finance minister who was backed by the country's two biggest Christian parties, the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese forces.