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Lebanese Government Resigns Amid Protests

22 minutes ago Top Stories - AP



BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami announced the resignation of his pro-Syrian government Monday, two weeks after the assassination of his predecessor, Rafik Hariri, triggered protests in the streets and calls for Syria to withdraw its thousands of troops.


AP Photo

Anti-Syrian Protesters Fill Beirut Streets
(AP Video)



"I am keen that the government will not be a hurdle in front of those who want the good for this country. I declare the resignation of the government that I had the honor to head. May God preserve Lebanon," Karami said.


Karami made the announcement during a parliamentary debate called to discuss Hariri's Feb. 14 assassination in a bomb blast that killed 16 others. The announcement prompted cheers from more than 25,000 flag-waving demonstrators protesting against the government and its Syrian backers outside.


The resignation was the most dramatic moment yet in the series of protests and political maneuvers that have shaken Lebanon since Hariri's killing.


Many in Lebanon blame Syria for being behind Hariri's slaying and have pressed hard since then for the resignation of the pro-Syrian Lebanese government and for Syria to withdraw its 15,000 troops positioned in Lebanon.


Both governments have denied involvement in Hariri's assassination.


Earlier Monday, Karami asked the legislature to renew its confidence in his Cabinet, which took power in October after Hariri's resignation in a dispute with Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon.






This is for you,Bluesman.. I remember your little speech from yesterday about Democracy beating its drums in the middle East...

smilingassassin

Hope he dosn't let the door hit his ass on the way out, heres to democracy prevailing in Lebanon.

Ray

Lull,

What is the comments from the other side of the hill?

The PM is pro Syria and he has gone. But the President is also pro Syria. Now, what is to be done to him? What does the Constitution states?

What do you think is the next that the Syrians will do? They after all have 15,000 soldiers in Lebanon.

How will this impinge on the ongoing peace process in the neighbourhood?

Comments requested without deregatory words and without Smileys.

Rahul

Ray, Lull is taking a 4 day Admin-mandated vacation from WAB. His comments got him in some deep ____. It's a pity too because I'd like to hear what he has to say as well about this development.

Emile Lahoud, the President, as you said is still there. However, IMO, there isn't much he can really do if the whole Parliament has resigned, people are protesting all over Beirut, and even factions like Hizbullah are too scared to say anything to help the Syrians out.

I'm hoping the Lebanese enact their own "Orange Revolution" type thing against Syrian influence with international pressure helping force Syria to pull its troops out for good.

__________________
Am out of town for a while and then have tons of work coming up at school. Will be back once that's all done.

Confed999

Fantastic news!

__________________
No man is free until all men are free - John Hossack
I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq-John Kerry
even if that enforcement is mostly at the hands of the United States, a right we retain even if the Security Council fails to act-John Kerry
He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It’s the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat-John Kerry

Ray

Rahul,

So sad that Lull is on a holiday.

He was the source to the Moslem viewpoint that allowed me to find out what really was up.

One sided views do not allow a peek into what the 'adversary' is thnking about! Maybe it is my background that requires a contrary view to make up visualise an issue in its holity.

For instance, it is great news that Egypt will have elections. But the question is will Mubarak allow formidable candidates to challenge or lock those guys up on sone trumped up charge or disqualify for some archainc rule or something. These guys are beyond the concept of democracy as we know and hence I am very apprehensive of anything to the contrary in the Arab lands.

jon_j_rambo

It's about time for some radical change! This issue has been bothering me!

Gio

Arab world democratic revolution?

Ray

Someone is trying to replace Condi Rice.

First assumes a self appointed postion as a Moderator and now setting greater heights - Secretary of State.

Now, who is this person?

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs (ch. XVI, v. 18)

Ironduke

Maybe we'll see an Orange Revolution in Lebanon....

Europeanarmy

It would be great...it would be even greater if it could also trigger off a change of regime in Syria itself.

Ray

It is the Cedar Revolution.

Don't worry more revolutions are on the anvil.

However, wherever these revolutions have occured, they tell of a different story. I just read one the other day.

Just don't understand where the reality stands.