Many fear Lahoud's departure from office with no successor could lead to two competing administrations and violence in a country still rebuilding from its 1975-1990 civil war.

Lawmakers from the Western-backed majority began arriving at parliament in downtown Beirut for a session due to start at 1 p.m. (1100 GMT), but they were not expected to elect a president in the face of a boycott by the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Opposition MPs also gathered at parliament, but were not expected to enter the assembly chamber, preventing a two-thirds quorum for a vote already postponed four times.

"I don't expect any surprises in parliament," majority MP Mohammad Kabbani said. "There will be no election by an absolute majority ... and I don't expect any surprises in the street."

French-led mediation has failed to forge agreement on Lahoud's successor between groups opposed to Syrian influence in Lebanon and others backed by Damascus, including Hezbollah.



Lahoud warned

Deputy Parliament Speaker Farid Makari warned President Emile Lahoud against breaching the constitution, stressing that his sole constitutional duty is to go home. Boycotters of election sessions are responsible for political vacuum.

Lahoud has previously suggested he might hand over his powers to General Michel Suleiman, the current army chief. The governing coalition would reject such a step.

According to Article 62 of the Lebanese constitution presidential powers pass to the government, in the event the parliament does not elect a new president before the term of the incumbent expires.

Lahoud disputes the legitimacy of the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and has said he will take action before leaving office, without giving details.

Earlier this week Michel Murr a prominent member of the opposition also warned Lahoud urging him to peacefully leave the office.

Hariri and Jumblatt stress consensus

Democratic gathering leader Walid Jumblat said "we attended today’s session to stress on our commitment to consensus and to our constitutional right to elect a president without breaching consensus. We want a president to safeguard the nation’s independence, sovereignty and the Taif."

Similarly, parliament majority leader Saad Hariri stressed his commitment to consensus and said he wants to elect a president for six years and rejects any settlement at the expense of the martyrs’ blood."

Hariri then left the parliament building and headed to Bkirki to meet with Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir .

MP Ali Hassan Khalil of the Amal movement, a Hezbollah ally said " the opposition is committed to civil order and to maintaining consultations aimed at achieving consensus on a president."

Despondent Lebanese

"There are fears for the future. I am from the generation which lived through the civil war, which destroyed our dreams," said Charbel Faris, an artist. "Enough," said the 55-year-old, urging the politicians to end the crisis. "We've had enough of dancing on the blade of a sword."

Thousands of Lebanese soldiers and police, backed by armored vehicles, deployed across Beirut overnight, lining some streets leading to parliament. Others guarded government buildings or manned checkpoints.

Extra measures were taken around a five-star hotel where dozens of anti-Syrian lawmakers have been staying under guard for the past two months for fear of assassination attempts.

Lebanon has been rattled by some 30 politically motivated attacks over the last three years that have killed dozens, including eight anti-Syrian politicians and journalists.

The army has warned against any internal strife. Both sides have accused each other of arming their supporters.

The president must be a Maronite Christian, according to Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system.

The anti-Syrian majority argues that Siniora's government should automatically take over presidential powers until a new head of state can be elected, a view supported by European foreign ministers visiting Beirut on a mediation drive.

The United States and its local allies blame Syria for the deadlock. Hezbollah and its Christian allies say the U.S.-backed majority wants to keep them from their rightful share of power and accuse Washington of trying to control Lebanon.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner left Beirut on Thursday after the latest of several failed mediation efforts.

Sources: Reuters, Ya Libnan