Lebanon's parliament has elected army chief Michel Suleiman as their new president.

Celebratory gunfire erupted in Beirut after Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri declared that General Suleiman, the sole candidate, had won by securing 118 votes from the 128-member assembly.

The election was part of an agreement brokered by Qatar last week to defuse a crisis that had swept Lebanon to the brink of civil war, killing at least 81 people.

After the vote, General Suleiman, 59, took his oath of office in the chamber before making a speech that set the tone for his six-year term.

Tackling relations with neighbouring Syria, one of the many challenges his presidency will face, General Suleiman called for the establishment of formal diplomatic links with Damascus.

He said: "We look strongly to brotherly ties between Lebanon and Syria in the context of mutual respect of the sovereignty and borders of each country and diplomatic ties which will bring good for both of them."

The election ended a deadlock which has left the post vacant since November.

For months, General Suleiman had been accepted by all sides as the only candidate to succeed outgoing pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.

But disagreements had repeatedly prevented a parliamentary vote to appoint him.

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