Seventeen-month delay is the first time Lebanese parliament has extended its session since 1975-90 civil war
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As concerns grow over increasing violence in Lebanon, lawmakers agreed Friday to postpone June parliamentary elections until November 2014, citing "political deadlock and the civil war in neighboring Syria", Reuters reports:
Even before violence escalated in Lebanon last week, politicians were deeply divided over changes to the electoral law and had already put the June poll date in serious doubt.
Agreement for an extension was reached as a battle took place on the Syrian-Lebanese border in which fighters from Lebanon's Shia Hezbollah political and militant movement have been openly involved. The fighting provoked clashes in Tripoli as gunmen in support of and opposed to Bashar al-Assad took to the streets.
The 17-month extension is the first time parliament has lengthened its mandate since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. It comes after two months of failed negotiations over a new electoral law, along with prime minister designate Tammam Salam's inability to form a government in light of increasing divisions over – and fears of violent spillover from – the Syrian crisis.
"The US strongly regrets this decision to postpone Lebanon's electoral process," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Friday. "We have supported elections happening on time."
Multiple videos have been uploaded to YouTube of protesters in Beirut – angry with the decision – pelting a parliamentarian's car with tomatoes.
Here's another, overhead view uploaded today by AP reporter Bassem Mroue.
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