Thousands of Lebanese rally for Aoun's presidential bid

Thousands of Lebanese rallied near the presidential palace on Sunday in a show of support to politician Michel Aoun and to press for his election as president of the country.

Hundreds of cars packed streets leading to the Palace, causing a traffic congestion.

The presidential seat has been vacant for a year now due to a political conflict in the country.

Aoun supporters are calling for electing him as the presiden of the country or holding parliamentary polls.

The rally also was called for marking events in October 1990, near the end of the Lebanese civil war, when the Syrian army captured Baabda.

Aoun, leader of the biggest Christian bloc in the parliament, does not have the backing of a rival alliance led by Sunni politician Saad al Hariri.

That alliance includes prominent Christian rivals to Aoun, notably his civil war enemy Samir Geagea, who also seeks the presidency.

Source: MENA