Lebanon’s parliament was set Thursday to make yet another effort to elect a president, filling a vacuum that’s lasted for more than two years. The leading candidate is Lebanese army commander Joseph Aoun, no relation to the former president. Hezbollah previously backed another candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, the leader of a small Christian party in northern Lebanon with close ties to former Syrian President Bashar Assad. Lebanese army commander, General Joseph Aoun, center, during a visit to the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on Dec. 23. AFP - Getty ImagesAs a sitting army commander, Joseph Aoun is technically barred from becoming president by Lebanon’s constitution.

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Persons: Michel Aoun, Joseph Aoun, Suleiman Frangieh, Bashar Assad, Frangieh, Aoun, General Joseph Aoun, Jihad, Elias al Organizations: Hezbollah, AFP, Getty, Central Asia Department, International Monetary Fund, Lebanon’s General Security, IMF Locations: Lebanese, United States, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Israel, Khiam, East