The move, announced by the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, is aimed at giving rival parties more time to decide on a candidate to succeed the current pro-Syrian president, Emile Lahoud, whose presidential term expires on November 23.
Under the Lebanese Constitution, a president is elected by parliament for a six-year, non-renewable term. However, Lahoud's term, which was due to end in 2004, was extended until 2007 by an ad hoc amendment to allow him to stay in power.
On September 25, the Hezbollah-led opposition boycotted the vote to elect a new president, preventing the two-thirds quorum required for the procedure, in a bid to stop the U.S.-supported majority from electing a president from their own ranks.
The current crisis has the very real potential to lead to the emergence of two rival governments, and subsequent political chaos.
Lebanon witnessed a devastating civil war from 1975-1990, and has seen a chain of political assassinations in recent years, including the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.
If parliament is unable to elect a president by November 24, Prime Minister Siniora and his Cabinet automatically assume executive powers.
