Lahoud Invited to a Sports Event in Cairo

President Emile Lahoud on Thursday received an invitation from his Egyptian counterpart Husni Mubarak to visit Cairo just 13 days before his extended term in office expires. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Egypt's ambassador to Lebanon Ahmed Fouad Bidewi delivered Mubarak's invitation to Lahoud to take part in the opening of the 11th Arab games, scheduled for Nov. 11. Lahoud's extended term in office expires on Nov. 24, just one day before the Arab Games –in which Lebanon participates- conclude competitions in Egypt. The text of the invitation stated that Mubarak "looks forwards to President Lahoud's participation in this important pan-Arab gathering." The NNA report said Lahoud Thanked Mubarak for the invitation, but failed to disclose whether the Lebanese Head of state would actually leave for Cairo at such a critical time for the presidential race to elect the first head of state after withdrawal of Syria's troops from Lebanon. Lahoud's term was extended for three years by a controversial constitutional amendment in Sept. 2004, when the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad was the sole power broker in Lebanon. The extension was a direct challenge to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 of Sept. 2004, which called for the election of a successor to Lahoud without foreign intervention and in line with the nation's constitution.

Beirut, 18 Oct 07, 18:17 from http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/66165EAA46E58C3AC22573780059468D?OpenDocument