Lebanese Christian and opposition coalition nominate IMF's Azour for president

FILE PHOTO: Jihad Azour attends an interview with Reuters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Abdel Hadi Ramahi

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's disparate opposition, independent and main Christian parties said on Sunday they had nominated IMF official Jihad Azour for the presidency in a challenge to Hezbollah-backed candidate Suleiman Franjieh.

A meeting of the parties endorsed the nomination of Azour, currently director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund and also a former Lebanese finance minister.