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Lahoud Asks Army to Take Over Lebanon Security

Reuters

Nov 23, 2007

Lebanese army soldiers secure an intersection in Beirut, November 23, 2007, standing under a billboard showing the picture of assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri with a slogan that reads: 'They will not terrorise us... the International tribunal is coming.' (Ramzi Haidar/AFP/Getty Images)

BEIRUT—Lebanon's outgoing President Emile Lahoud asked the army to take control of the country's security on Friday, after rival leaders failed to agree on his successor, creating a vacuum in the presidency from midnight.

Lahoud said in a statement read on his behalf that "the dangers of a state of emergency" existed and entrusted "the army with the authority to maintain security".

Lahoud considers the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as illegitimate.