Lebanese legislators Friday agreed to extend parliament's term by 17 months due to security concerns related to the conflict in neighbouring Syria and a row over a new election law, said politicians, dpa reported.
The move means planned June parliamentary elections will now wait until November 2014. It is the first time such an action has been taken since Lebanon's civil war ended in 1990.
The extension was approved by 97 members at the 128-strong legislature.
"We have accepted the extension due to current tensions, the deteriorating security situation and (Lebanese) Hezbollah's announcement of its broad participation in Syria's battles," said Fouad Seniora, the head of the anti-Syria Future Movement bloc, after the vote.
Legislators are also divided about how to rewrite election laws that divide the country into 22 districts in a way critics say does not guarantee fair representation.
Rival political factions have been deadlocked on the matter.
Anti-extension protesters gathered outside the parliament building and threw tomatoes at lawmakers as they entered to vote on the extension motion.
"We are dismayed at the lack of responsibility among our deputies, who failed to agree on a simple law to secure a new parliamentary election," Randa Ayyash, a protester, told dpa.
Syria's 26-month conflict has repeatedly spilled over into Lebanon, which has seen deadly clashes between backers and opponents of the Syrian regime in recent months.
Hezbollah's recent announcement of fighting alongside Syrian government troops has stoked fears of more violence in Lebanon.