BEIRUT (dpa-AFX) – The Lebanese parliament has extended its term of office by two years, thereby postponing the parliamentary elections planned for May. According to Parliament Speaker and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri, 76 of the 128 MPs voted to extend the four-year legislative period by two more years. “Parliament has decided to extend his term of office by two years,” his office said in a statement.
Members of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah’s 13-member parliamentary bloc also voted to extend the term, local media said. Parliament’s decision followed a renewed escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since last week both sides have been shooting at each other again./arj/DP/stw
