Suleiman to become Lebanese president

BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 23 (UPI) -- Gen. Michael Suleiman, commander of the Lebanese armed forces, will assume the presidency in a special session of Parliament, Speaker Nabih Berri announced.

Among those expected to be on hand for Sunday's ceremony are Qatari Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Arab League chief Amr Moussa, European Union Foreign Policy Commissioner Javier Solana, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Contenders for prime minister include Member of Parliament Saad Hariri, who is the legislative body's majority leader, and current Premier Fouad Siniora, the Daily Star said.