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| 26/05/2008 Lebanon's newly elected president Michel Suleiman prepared to launch consultations on forming a national unity government on Monday as he began his first full day in office.
Suleiman, 59, was greeted with a 21-gun salute as he took up residence in the Baabda presidential palace, which had been left vacant during six months of political crisis that left Lebanon without a head of state.
After surveying the republican guard and listening to the national anthem, a smiling Suleiman took his seat in the presidential chair.
The national flag, emblazoned with the cedar emblem, was also raised over the presidential palace in the outskirts of Beirut.
Suleiman, who was commander-in-chief of the armed forces, appealed for unity and national dialogue in his inaugural speech on Sunday which was endorsed by Lebanese parties and the international community. "Let us unite... and work towards a solid reconciliation," Suleiman said. "We have paid dearly for our national unity. Let us preserve it hand-in-hand."
Suleiman's main challenge this week will be to form the promised government of national unity which was one of the key planks of the deal which the Lebanese parties reached in Qatar last week to end the crisis.
The so-called March 14 bloc was expected to hold consultations on Monday on whom to nominate for the premiership - either Fouad Saniora or MP Saad Hariri.
WORLD HAILS LEBANON VOTE AS FIRST STEP TO RECONCILIATION
Meanwhile, the international community hailed the election of Michel Suleiman as Lebanon's new president on Sunday as a crucial first step in reuniting the divided nation.
Indeed, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he hoped the "historic" vote would lead to the "revitalization of all of Lebanon's constitutional institutions and a return to political dialogue." He called on all Lebanese parties to press ahead together in consolidating the sovereignty, stability and political independence of the Lebanese state.
For his part, US President George W. Bush said he looked forward to "an era of political reconciliation" in Lebanon, adding that he was confident that "Lebanon has chosen a leader committed to protecting its sovereignty, extending the government's authority over all of Lebanon, and upholding Lebanon's international obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions."
The European Union's Slovenian presidency congratulated all parties involved "for the first step" towards ending the political deadlock, saying Suleiman's election "paves the way for the full resumption and functioning of the democratic institutions."
Meanwhile, Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos hailed the role of Syria in the process, the official Sana news agency reported in Damascus. At a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem, Moratinos said Syria "helped in the realization of the Lebanese accord."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged full support for Suleiman and said he hoped the election would allow Lebanon to take a significant step forward and "confront the challenges that await."
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the election was "an important step forward." He vowed to continue to support Lebanon's stability, integrity and independence. "We look forward to president Suleiman working with a unity government to bring Lebanon out of its current fragility," he added.
German President Horst Koehler said he welcomed "this bold step" towards resolving Lebanon's political crisis and wished Suleiman luck in his new role. "I wish you lots of success, the necessary strength and good luck for the big challenges that lie ahead of you," he said in a statement.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his country "stands ready to assist the Lebanese government in any way possible," adding that Suleiman had "tremendous experience and the confidence of the Lebanese people."
For its part, the Arab community, mainly represented during the vote session, hailed Suleiman's election, vowing to support him.
State television in Syria reported that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad had telephoned Suleiman to congratulate him and had promised that Syrian was "at Lebanon's side." It also said Suleiman takes office "with the green light of all Lebanese and enormous Arab and international support.
"Lebanon is in its rightful place - a united Arab Lebanon, capable of overcoming deadlock. A resistant Lebanon has elected a new president," said the presenter of state television news.
Jordan's King Abdullah II said the vote was a "positive step for the people of Lebanon and for national unity," according to a statement from the royal palace. "Jordan stands alongside the Lebanese in their desire and their efforts to preserve their independence and their stability," he said.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI congratulated Suleiman in a message. "Thanks to your wisdom, your skills and human qualities, you are going to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly people of Lebanon in strengthening national unity," he said.
Suleiman, Lebanon's army chief for the past 10 years, was sworn in after a parliamentary vote that many hope will turn the page on the 18-month political feud. | 
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