Lebanon's general elections will start on May 29th, in line with the constitutional deadline, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said today.
In the past Lebanon held its parliamentary elections in several rounds stretching out over several weeks.
The elections had been threatened with delay by the February 14th killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, which threw Lebanon into its worst political crisis since the 1975 - 1990 civil war and left the country with no government for seven weeks.
Lebanon has faced international calls to hold elections on time by the end of May, when the term of the existing parliament, elected in 2000, is due to expire.
Lebanon's anti-Syrian opposition had accused Syrian-backed officials of procrastinating to delay the polls, which they expect to give them a majority in the house now dominated by allies of Damascus.
A new cabinet led by Najib Mikati, a wealthy businessman with close ties to Damascus, is expected to win a vote of confidence in the chamber later on Wednesday, a day after the last Syrian troops left the country, ending 29 years of direct involvement.