Hezbollah to vote for Aoun in coming Lebanese election

BEIRUT – The leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah says his parliamentary bloc will vote for former army commander Michel Aoun for president at the next balloting session in parliament.

Sunday's announcement brings Aoun one step closer to the presidency after his political rival, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, announced his party's support for his candidacy earlier this week.

Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech that his bloc would end its elections boycott that has run for more than two years to vote for Aoun at the next session on Oct. 31.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014.

Aoun appears to have the support of the majority of the 128-member parliament.