Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa is set to arrive in Beirut on Monday to present to the ruling coalition and the opposition, a plan for the election of a president. Moussa said that the ministers welcomed the sides’  agreement on the candidacy of the army chief Michel Suleiman and said that this would be an “election in accordance with the constitution” by January 27th, and would lead to the formation of a national unity government.

Lebanon has been without a president since Emile Lahoud stood down on November 24th. Presidential powers have been assumed temporarily by the government of Fuad Siniora.

While deputies have agreed on Suleiman, they continue to argue over how to amend the constitution to permit a serving public servant to take up an elective post and over the shape of the government.