Diplomats: International Community Deeply Concerned over Army Leadership Vacuum

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has tasked Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly to inform Lebanese officials about his deep concern over a possible vacuum in the army leadership, American and European diplomats said.

The diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published Monday that Ban is “extremely concerned” that a vacuum in the army commander's post would have security and political repercussions on the role of U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL coordinates with the Lebanese army that is deployed south of the Litani river to implement Security Council resolution 1701, which put an end to a 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah in August 2006.

The absence of an army chief would “hinder the mission of UNIFIL contingents in their coordination with the Lebanese army to implement the resolution,” the diplomats warned.

The latest talks held between visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Lebanese officials dealt with the controversy on the extension of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's term, they said.

But his questions on the matter remained unanswered, the diplomats added.

Al-Hayat's sources said that the ambassadors of western countries have also expressed concern that a vacuum in the army leadership would lead to a similar crisis in the presidency next year.

The extension, in addition to several other draft-laws, has been put on the agenda of a three-day parliamentary session that Speaker Nabih Berri has called for on July 16.

But caretaker Premier Najib Miqati and the March 14 alliance stand firm on boycotting it over their claim that holding such a session with a resigned government was unconstitutional.

The Change and Reform bloc, on the other hand, rejects the extension of the term of Qahwaji, who turns 60 this September – the retirement age for the army chief.