Lebanese MPs fail for fifth time to elect president

Lebanon’s divided parliament failed Thursday to elect a new president for the fifth time, with the post vacant since the mandate of Michel Aoun expired last month.

Michel Moawad, whose father Rene Moawad served as president, was the frontrunner in the 128-seat parliament with 44 votes on Thursday, still far short of the two-thirds majority – or 86 ballots – needed to win.

Parliament is split between supporters of the Lebanese Hezbollah and its opponents, neither having a clear majority.