Foreign ministers from the 22-member Arab League agreed at a special meeting in Cairo Saturday to elect a president, form a government of national unity and the adopt a new electoral law.

"Solana strongly supports the three-stage plan on Lebanon unanimously adopted by the Arab League foreign ministers on January 6," said the senior diplomat’s spokeswoman Cristina Gallach. "This plan creates a strong momentum."

Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa is due in Lebanon, possibly as early as Wednesday, said a European source. Gallach said Solana wished Mussa every success in finding implementation backing.

"(Solana) looks forward to a speedy resumption of functioning democratic institutions," she added.

Lebanon has been without a president since the mandate of pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud expired on November 23, amid sharp divisions between the Western-backed ruling majority and the opposition, which is backed by Syria and Iran.

A vote in the Lebanese parliament to elect a new head of state has been postponed 11 times, and the legislature is now due to meet again on January 12 for a fresh attempt.

Arab League ministers said they supported an agreement between Lebanese parties to elect as president General Michel Sleiman, the 59-year-old commander-in-chief of the armed forces for nearly 10 years. -AFP