Just in: Lebanese (pro-Syrian) government resigns

http://www.cnn.com ^ | 28 February 2005 | CNN

[Eurotwit]

Just watching CNN. They Pro-Syrian government has just resigned. Huge celebrations in Beirut.

Mod note: On CNN's banner:
Lebanon’s pro-Syrian prime minister, Omar Karami, announces his resignation and that of his government. Details soon.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes.

If Syria (dars and) moves further into Lebanon as a result of this popular uprising, then the United States will go to immediate war with Damascus.

[rintense]

I thought there were a good number of Christians in Lebanon. Is that correct?

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for the GWB quotes. Without any doubt, he is one of the genuinely great figures in all history. It's difficult to compare leaders from different eras, but I put GWB in the same category as Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Lincoln, FDR (only as far as his prosecution of WWII), Reagan, Churchill, and a few others.

[CitizenM]

That is a point I thought of too. But, the thing is - the box has been opened...there's no turning back. Just the fact those demonstrations went on in the streets with tens of thousands shows strength of their desire.

[SunkenCiv]

Jacko is a child molester. If he's tossed in prison (he belongs there) for his crimes, it will be a political issue, although probably no one will talk about it directly in 2006.

The Lebanese events are obviously important, and the benefits to US prestige among Arabs are obvious. But they aren't the only thing going on. There's also the possibility that the attention being paid to the one story is part of an overall spin strategy.

:')

I make my own fun, don't I? ;')

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

He needs a lot of cleanup....and a crew cut so you can tell where his eyes annd ears are....

[BigSkyFreeper]

Do you know what an axis is ?

Yes. Do you?

[anonymoussierra]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/134901/1/.html

Thousands join anti-Syria rally in Lebanon as MPs hold stormy debate

BEIRUT : Thousands of people defied a government ban and massed in the heart of Beirut as Lebanese parliament held a stormy debate set to culminate in a vote of no-confidence in the pro-Syrian regime.

The anti-Syria rally came exactly two weeks after the assassination of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri which triggered a wave of public opposition against the Lebanese government and its backers in Damascus who are blamed for the murder.

Waving large red and white Lebanese flags and shouting "Syria out!" protesters descended on Martyrs' Square where Hariri is buried as hundreds of heavily armed troops and police guarded surrounding streets but did not prevent the rally.

Many stayed on throughout the night despite the ban on demonstrations coming into force and media reports put the size of the crowds at 50,000, while an army officer said there were about 20,000 demonstrators.

"Through your resistance you are writing a new page in history, one of regained independence," Druze opposition leader Walid Jumblatt said.

"Together we want a sovereign and independent Lebanon, the departure of Syrian secret services and above all the truth: who killed Rafiq Hariri," he said. "We want to be friends with the Syrian people but we want the Syrian army to go."

Since the murder of Hariri in a massive bomb blast in Beirut on February 14, international pressure has mounted on Syria to end its dominance of Lebanese political affairs and pull out its 14,000 troops stationed there.

The parliament session will be a crucial test for the government of Prime Minister Omar Karameh which took office after Hariri resigned in October in a row over Syrian influence.

Karameh denied his government had a role in the attack, that also killed another 17 people, and called for national unity in an address to the assembly.

"To fire off political accusations pinning the responsibility of this criminal murder on the government without any proof is a grave injustice," he said.

Karameh called for a vote of confidence in his government and urged "all parties to take part in dialogue... to come to an agreement away from outside interference."

The opposition plans to call a vote of no-confidence in the government but the debate, called by 37 of the house's 127 members to demand the truth about Hariri's assassination, may last for several days given the large number of deputies who asked for time to speak.

"The Lebanese parliament, and all the Lebanese people want to know who killed Rafiq Hariri," said parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri.

The opposition does not have the majority to bring down the government, but has been trying to rally the votes of MPs angered by Hariri's assassination.

"He who votes today for the government will be viewed as an accomplice in the assassination of Rafiq Hariri," charged opposition MP Walid Eido.

Opposition MP Nayla Moawad said Sunday that three members of the government -- Energy Minister Maurice Sehnawi, Economy and Commerce Minister Adnane Kassar and junior minister for administrative development Ibrahim Daher -- had resigned.

But Daher denied the claim and the other ministers could not be reached for comment.

Washington's number two Middle East pointman, David Satterfield, called again on Syria to start pulling out its troops before elections are due to be held in Lebanon in line with a UN Security Council resolution adopted in September.

"We want to see free and fair elections take place this spring," he told reporters after meeting Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmud Hammud.

"It's important that steps take place on the ground prior to those elections including the beginning of the implementation of Resolution 1559."

Resolution 1559 calls for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and respect for its sovereignty but a specific reference to Syria was deleted at the last minute.

The Beirut government and Syria have rejected responsibility for Hariri's killing and refused to allow an international inquiry, but have agreed to cooperate with a visiting UN fact-finding mission.

Lebanese Defence Minister Abdel Rahim Mrad announced Thursday an imminent Syrian military pullback to the Bekaa Valley of eastern Lebanon, but there have still been no signs of the redeployment.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara, on a regional tour, has rejected pressure for the implementation of Resolution 1559, insisting that Damascus and Beirut remained bound by the Taef accord which foresaw a more gradual pullback.

Shara was on Monday in Saudi Arabia, where the royal family has voiced strong interest in the fate of Hariri, a close business partner and naturalised Saudi citizen.

- AFP

Thank you

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes. Many, many Christians in Lebanon. And they are the most opposed, I believe, to Syria's occupation and influence.

[Semper Paratus]

Coop doesn't think Syria is a state that sponsors and harbors terror.

Former President of Isreal said if you want to find terrorist organizations in Syria you can look them up in the Damascus Yellow Pages.

[Rutles4Ever]

Careful - we thought that about Tienammen Square, too. If the Syrian military stands down and goes home, I'll be much happier about the future in Lebanon. Otherwise, they could just be changing the curtains.

[processing please hold]

Ah but such gorgeous hair now! I'm kinda fond of long hair on certain men.

Me too.

[Grampa Dave]

Actually, if you drain all of the contributing waters to the swamp, the swamp will dry up on its own.

That is what is happening.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Excuse me anonymoussierra, but I couldn't help but notice that your speech pattern sounds very familiar.Have you been here before under other names, perhaps? You sound like dejavu all over again.

[free_life]

Your 5 year old son is brilliant!

Bush on Mt. Rushmore with a purple finger!

[YaYa123]

"These are historic times. "

Amen, brother! But note how the left media can hardly bring itself to cover these successes.

[Coop]

Coop. The President added Syria to the Axis in 2002.

As was mentioned in your link.

So if he added something to the Axis...

[oceanview]

I agree with you. I am just wondering if we are making this policy known to them (privately). Perhaps we should be moving some aricraft carriers in the Med closer to the Lebanese coast.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Your refusal to acknowledge facts presented to you is ample proof. Talk about nonsense.

[Wolfstar]

The Lebanese flag has to be the second most beautiful flag.

It is a very pretty flag. Something quite cheery and hopeful about it.