The World - News from Oct. 18, 1988

Pro-Syrian Lebanese observed a one-day strike to protest Iraq’s support for a Lebanese Christian Cabinet, one of two administrations vying for power in the war-torn country. Iraq, Syria’s arch-rival, has supported an interim military administration led by Maj. Gen. Michel Aoun, whom President Amin Gemayel appointed premier last month. Syria, a power broker in Lebanon, backs the Muslim-led Cabinet of Salim Hoss. The strike came on the day before an election in Parliament on a new Speaker to replace Hussein Husseini, whose term expires today. Christians were expected to boycott the vote.