- 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.
-
- ``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.
-
- ( © Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or
redistributed. )
-
- http://news.bostonherald.com/international/view.bg?articleid=70787
-
-
- Lebanese Government Quits
In Assassination Aftermath
The Scotsman
2-28-5
-
- Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami announced his
government's
resignation today, prompting cheers from more than 25,000 flag-waving
opposition
demonstrators protesting against the leadership and their Syrian backers
in a Beirut square.
-
- "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 honour to head. May God preserve
Lebanon,"
Karami said.
-
- The resignation was the most dramatic moment yet in the
series of protests and political manoeuvres that have shaken Lebanon since
the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
-
- Many in Lebanon blame Syria for being behind Hariri's
death and have pressed hard since his death for the resignation of the
pro-Syrian Lebanese government - and for Syria to withdraw its roughly
15,000 troops positioned in Lebanon.
-
- The illegal street demonstration was mounted to coincide
with a parliamentary confidence vote in the government being held
today.
-
- http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4190959
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