The Lebanese opposition boycotted a parliamentary vote on a new president Tuesday, forcing the rescheduling of a vote for Oct. 23.

Lebanon's parliament on Tuesday put off a session to elect a new president until next month after the legislature failed to muster enough lawmakers because of a Hezbollah-led opposition boycott.

The United States and France, in a joint statement Friday, condemned the death of Antoine Ghanem, who was killed in an explosion in Lebanon.

By Sam F. Ghattas, Associated Press BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Lebanese leaders pledged Thursday to press ahead with a divisive election for president, to be held in parliament in coming days, despite the car bombing assassination of an anti-Syrian lawmaker.

By Nada Bakri Hassan M. Fattah contributed reporting from Dubai and Christine Hauser and Graham Bowley contributed from New York.