President Michel Aoun received phone calls Monday from a number of heads of state who congratulated him on being elected as Lebanon's 13th president.

Binding parliamentary consultations for the designation of a new premier have been scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, state-run National News Agency reported, hours after Michel Aoun was elected as Lebanon's 13th president.

The U.S. on Monday described Michel Aoun's election as president of Lebanon as a “moment of opportunity,” while urging the next government to “uphold Lebanon’s international obligations.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the long-awaited election of a president in Lebanon and said a new government must now be formed without delay.

European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini announced Monday that the election of Michel Aoun as president of Lebanon “opens the way for all political parties to now engage in constructive dialogue.”

A top Emirati court on Monday sentenced seven people to up to life in prison after convicting them of forming a cell linked to Lebanon's Hizbullah, state media said.

The International Support Group for Lebanon (ISG) on Monday congratulated President Michel Aoun over his election as Lebanon's 13th president, calling for a speedy government formation and for holding the upcoming parliamentary polls on time.

The majority of Lebanon's political leaders welcomed on Monday the election of Michel Aoun as president of the republic and the end of around two and a half years of presidential and political vacuum.

Iran's foreign ministry on Monday congratulated the Lebanese people and all Lebanese parties on the election of Free Patriotic Movement founder Michel Aoun as president, calling the election "an important step to consolidate democracy and ensure Lebanon's stability."

Media office of presidential hopeful MP Michel Aoun issued a statement on Monday, ahead of a parliament session set to elect a president, and reminded the Lebanese, mainly Aoun's supporters, of the need to comply with the regulations during celebrations that will go in parallel with the election session.
The statement urged the Lebanese especially supporters of Aoun to “comply with the regulations during the celebrations and to stay away from abusive manifestations,” said the statement.
