by Youssef Hourany

Beirut (AsiaNews) – Nabih Berri, head of the Shi'ite political movement Amal, was yesterday re-elected as speaker of Lebanon's House of Representatives for his fourth term. Farid Magari was elected as vice-speaker: he is MP (Member of Parliament) for the region of north Lebanon and a candidate on "The Future" list set up by the former premier – the deceased Rafic Hariri – and currently run by his son Saad.

Berri garnered 90 out of 128 votes. The 38 ballot cards which did not feature his name remained blank to show the disapproval of some MPs of the man's management; Berri was considered as the "legislative motor" of Lebanese politics during the Syrian military presence.

Yesterday's assembly also saw the return to Parliament of General Michel Aoun, who returned to the country on 7 May after 15 years of voluntary political exile in France.

After his election, speaker Nabih Berri gave a speech in which he promised to follow closely developments in the international judicial inquiry into the assassination of ex premier Rafic Hariri. He also showed himself willing to convene Parliament for an extraordinary session before 20 July to analyse a proposal for a general amnesty. If upheld, the provision will lead to the release of the leader of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, imprisoned since 1994 after being held responsible for the assassination of the brother of the ex Lebanese premier, Omar Karame.

Berri then said he wants to apply the content of the Taeff accords in full. Signed in Saudi Arabia in 1989 with the backing of the tripartite Arab Commission (Algeria, Morocco and Saudi Arabia), the agreements regulate, among other things, the role played by religion within Lebanese political structures.

• lebanon
• elections
• house
• of
• representatives
• geagea
• berri
• taeff
• agreements