BEIRUT: Egypt s foreign minister called on Thursday for an end to foreign interference in Lebanon and urged feuding politicians to elect a president on time. Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said he was carrying no specific initiative to help Lebanese leaders overcome their differences, but would offer ideas. We seek to help by conveying to the leaders an Egyptian vision that encourages constructive dialogue ... that would secure a successful election, he told reporters in Beirut. We do not interfere in who gets elected. This is an internal affair and we hope all foreign interference in Lebanon would stop, he said, in an apparent reference to neighboring Syria, which many accuse of trying to hinder the Lebanese election. His visit comes few hours after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned against a power vacuum that could splinter the government in Lebanon and also called for an end to foreign interference. In a report to the Security Council Wednesday, Ban made clear that he was particularly referring to Syria. The United States and European leaders have also called for Syria to cease its interference in the affairs of its smaller neighbor. Syria denies it is interfering in Lebanese affairs. Its allies in Lebanon, led by the Hezbollah guerrilla group, accuse the United States of interfering by discouraging agreement on a compromise candidate. The attempt to choose a successor to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud before he steps down on Nov. 24 has become Lebanon s most serious political crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. Prime Minister Fouad Seniora s pro-Western, anti-Syrian government, which holds a slim majority in parliament has been deadlocked for 11 months with the pro-Syrian opposition factions led by Hezbollah. Associated Press
