BEIRUT, Nov 25: Lebanon, left without a president, may stay in political limbo for weeks, analysts warned on Sunday, although life was going on as normal despite the crisis.

“This situation may last for weeks,” political analyst Michael Young said.

“But there is nothing really new as Lebanon has been in political paralysis for over a year now, with institutions that do not function properly, including the presidency, the government and parliament.” President Emile Lahoud left office at the end of his term on Friday after parliament failed to elect his successor amid continued deadlock between the western-backed ruling majority and the opposition, supported by Syria and Iran.

The government, considered as “illegitimate” by the opposition since the resignation of all Shiite cabinet members last year, effectively took charge of running Lebanon on Saturday in line with the constitution.

Although politicians have vowed to reach an agreement over a consensus president by a parliamentary session set for next Friday, there has been no tangible progress.

Life has since resumed as normal, with families gathering as usual for Sunday lunch.

But with tanks and troops deployed on the streets, many fear the crisis could spark greater political tensions and trigger unrest in a country still suffering the consequences of its devastating 1975-1990 civil war.

The army, which has steered clear of comment on political developments, has been maintaining order on the streets of Lebanese cities ever since the 2005 murder of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri that led to massive protests.

Echoing international concerns, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said on Sunday that “Lebanon’s stability is an essential and necessary condition for stability in the region.” The crisis is widely seen as an extension of the regional confrontation pitting the United States against Lebanon’s former powerbroker Syria and its main regional ally Iran.

“The problem can be fixed in one day or in one month, as Lebanon has again become the victim of regional tensions,” political analyst and law professor Sami Salhab said.

“Lebanon is again a mail box where every foreign player sends a message to other players. Lebanon is again hostage to developments in the Middle East, including Syria, Palestine and the Iranian nuclear file,” he said.

Some Lebanese officials believe that the standoff over the presidency will be resolved only after this week’s US-hosted Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland.

“We have to watch progress on the Syrian track in Annapolis,” Young said.

“Either the Syrian track makes progress, and the United States will demand concessions from Syria, or the Syrian track does not make progress and Syria becomes more isolated,” he said.

“In either case, Syria will have to make concessions in Lebanon,” he said.

Syria was forced to end 29 years of military domination in Lebanon after it was blamed for the assassination of Hariri and subsequent attacks on other anti-Syrian figures in Lebanon, charges it has repeatedly denied.

Damascus is now accused by the ruling majority in Lebanon of seeking to regain political influence through its Lebanese allies.—AFP