Lahoud asks army to take over Lebanon security

Lebanon’s outgoing President Emile Lahoud asked the army to take control of the country’s security on Friday, after rival leaders failed to agree on his successor, creating a vacuum in the presidency from midnight.Lahoud said in a statement read on his behalf that “the dangers of a state of emergency” existed and entrusted “the army with the authority to maintain security”.

Lahoud considers the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as illegitimate.