The United Nations Security Council has called on Lebanon's parliament to hold presidential elections as scheduled next month in "an atmosphere free of violence, fear, and intimidation."
The council said in a statement Thursday that there should be no "foreign interference" in the election.
Tuesday, Lebanon's parliament speaker postponed a session to elect a new president until October 23 after lawmakers failed to reach a consensus on a presidential candidate.
The Hezbollah-led pro-Syrian opposition stayed away from parliament, preventing a two-thirds quorum required for a vote.
The opposition has vowed to prevent Lebanon's anti-Syrian government from electing one of its members as president.
Outgoing pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud ends his term on November 24.
A series of anti-Syrian figures have been killed in Lebanon in recent years. Syria has denied involvement in the killings.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
