Lebanon leaders back army chief for presidency

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's anti-Syrian governing coalition nominated the army chief for president on Sunday, opening the way for him to fill the vacant post in a step that would ease a deep political crisis.

The governing coalition had previously opposed the candidacy of General Michel Suleiman -- the preferred consensus choice of the opposition led by Hezbollah and backed by Syria.

President Emile Lahoud's term ended on November 23.