Published January 18, 2016
A Lebanese Christian leader has pulled out from the presidential race and endorsed the candidacy of his rival, Michel Aoun.
The withdrawal by Samir Geagea at a press conference Monday is the latest political maneuvering aimed at resolving Lebanon's 20-month political deadlock.
Geagea and Aoun, both presidential candidates, were angered along with other Christian politicians late last year when former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a Sunni, nominated politician Sleiman Frangieh for president without consulting them.
According to the country's power-sharing system, the president must be a Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shiite Muslim.
It was not clear whether Aoun, an 80-year-old ex-army commander, can garner enough parliament votes to become president.
The country's top post has been vacant since May 2014.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/lebanese-christian-leader-endorses-rival-for-president