The Arab League from its headquarters in Cairo backed a plan by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to hold a national reconciliation dialogue to end the political crisis in Beirut. A delegation from the 22-member Arab League plans to visit Lebanon to start a national dialogue with Berri and members of the Lebanese opposition groups in early May. The Arab League called for new electoral laws and a new cabinet, with Michel Suleiman, the commander of the Lebanese military, serving as the consensus president.
Lebanon has not had a president since Emile Lahoud stepped down in November.