BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) – The head of the Arab League is urging Lebanese lawmakers to quickly elect a new president.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa says such a step would meet the Syrian-backed opposition’s demand for the formation of a national unity government.

Moussa spoke at an Arab economic forum Friday in Beirut, a day after holding talks with top leaders from the Western-backed parliamentary majority and the opposition led by the militant Hezbollah group.

Lebanon has been without a president since pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud’s term ended in November.