The World - News from Sept. 19, 1988

Lebanon’s Christian-led army said it has rejected what it called an attempt by the United States and Syria to name a new Lebanese president. The military command said in a statement that the army commander, Gen. Michel Aoun, was told by an American official that U.S. envoy Richard W. Murphy and Syrian leaders had agreed “to name the Lebanese president”--reportedly Christian Parliament member Mikhail Daher. Parliament, which is empowered to name a successor to President Amin Gemayel before his term ends Friday, has been deadlocked for five weeks over who will be the new head of state.