In pictures: Lebanon elects leader

People in Lebanon are celebrating the election of a new president, ending months of political deadlock which culminated in some of the worse violence since the 15-year civil war.

New Lebanese President Michel Suleiman was sworn in after MPs elected him in the wake of a deal which ended an 18-month stalemate between the country's political factions.

All sides had agreed to back army chief Gen Suleiman, who stood unopposed, as a compromise candidate, after 19 failed attempts to elect a head of state since November.

Gen Suleiman is seen as a trusted figure who has preserved the army's neutrality amid clashes between the pro-Syrian opposition led by Hezbollah and the Western-backed outgoing governing coalition.

Like many Lebanese, Gen Suleiman's wife and relatives followed the ceremony on television. Correspondents say many in the country are relieved to finally have a president after six months without one.

Foreign dignitaries attending the ceremony included the Emir of Qatar, who mediated the deal which paved the way for the vote, as well as the foreign ministers of Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and France.

The vote follows an outbreak of violence between rival factions, which left at least 65 people dead and raised fears that internal strife in the multi-confessional nation was spiralling out of control.

But after Sunday's vote, fireworks lit up the sky and celebratory gunshots rang out, in stark contrast to the torched buildings and weapons fire Lebanon has seen in recent weeks.

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