Report: Foreign Powers May Seek Extending Suleiman's Term until Syrian Crisis is Resolved

President Michel Suleiman's repeated denials that he is seeking the extension of his term does not mean that this possibility has been taken off the table, diplomatic sources told the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Sunday.

They said that his term, which ends in 2014, may indeed be extended until the Syrian crisis is resolved.

Foreign powers are reasoning that Suleiman's term should inevitably be extended given the extension of the term of the Lebanese parliament and the tenure of official security agencies chiefs.

Moreover, they explained that it is best to keep “old figures instead of introducing new ones” until the crisis in Syria is resolved.

Foreign powers have not yet taken action to ensure the extension of the president's term however, added the diplomatic sources.

The extension is justified after Suleiman proved his “high wisdom and awareness in tackling disputes,” they stressed.

He succeeded in defending Lebanon's sovereignty and his efforts in maintaining the country's stability have been recognized by the international community, they said.

The international community is therefore seeking to maintain Suleiman's potential instead of wasting it should Lebanon fail to stage the presidential election, they explained.

In September, Suleiman said that he would challenge the extension of his mandate if the parliament took such a move amid soaring political tensions and the failure to form a new government.

He added: “The constitution is clear that a government should assume its constitutional responsibilities and prepare for the presidential elections as soon as possible.”

His term ends in May 2014.