NEW LEADER IN LEBANON
Rene Mouawad (pronounced Moo-OWW-wad) was elected Lebanon’s ninth president Sunday . Here is a brief profile: Education--Graduated from French-affiliated St. Joseph University in Christian East Beirut with law degree in 1947.
Resume--1949: opened private law practice in Tripoli; 1957: elected to Parliament; 1961: named Minister of Telegraphs and Telecommunications, held post until February, 1964; 1969: named Minister of Public Works; 1980: named Minister of Education.
Politics--Moderate Maronite Catholic; has taken pragmatic stance throughout civil war; advocates Muslim-Christian coexistence; supported Muslim demands for greater share of power in Christian-dominated system; acknowledges Syria’s role in Lebanon.
Personal--64 years old; born in Zagharta, a Maronite town about 40 miles north of Beirut that has been controlled by Syrian army since 1976; married in 1965, he and wife Naila have two children--son Michael, 24, and daughter Rima, 22.
Hobbies--Swimming, card playing, patron of the arts.
Nickname--”The Cool Zaghartan.”
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