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Posted on 02/28/2005 12:57:48 PM PST by IAF ThunderPilot
A historic moment in the Middle East occurred Monday evening when Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami announced his government's resignation Monday, prompting a cheer from more than 25,000 flag-waving opposition demonstrators protesting against the government and its Syrian backers near parliament.
"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.
The resignation was a huge victory for the opposition and the most dramatic moment yet in the series of protests and political maneuvers that have shaken Lebanon and its Syrian-backed government since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The change marks the first time that an Arab government has been brought down by the will of the people.
Jubilant demonstrators immediately shouted for pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to step down next.
Karami's Cabinet will continue as a caretaker government. The next step is for the president to appoint a prime minister after consulting with parliament members. The new prime minister consults parliamentary blocs to form a Cabinet that must withstand a parliamentary vote of confidence.
"Today the government fell. Tomorrow, it's the one huddled in Anjar," opposition leader Elias Atallah told the crowd to cheers, referring to the Syrian intelligence chief based in the eastern Lebanese town of Anjar. He said the opposition will continue its actions until all demands are met.
The protesters went further, shouting: "Lahoud, your turn is coming!" mixed with chants of "Syria Out" and "freedom, sovereignty, independence."
"The battle is not over. It is just beginning. We want to know who killed Prime Minister Hariri," opposition legislator Faris Saeed said, addressing the crowd.
The crowd responded loudly and in unison: "Syria Syria."
J. Adam Ereli, a U.S. State Department spokesman, said the United States shared "the Lebanese people's desire for the extension of Lebanese sovereignty over all of Lebanon's territory and the disarming of militias and the conduct of elections, parliamentary and otherwise that are free fair and transparent and are not marred by intimidation and violence."
"There's a constitutional process in Lebanon, we have every expectation that that constitutional process will be followed and that a new government will be able to fulfill the desires and the wishes of the people of Lebanon as they have been expressing them so eloquently for the past several weeks," he added.
-Now thats what I call amazing!
Ping "Lebanese government resigns (Updates!)"Thank you"IAF ThunderPilot"
The people in the square insist they will not leave until the Syrian troops are out of their country.
There goes that crazy George Bush and his silly notion of freedom again.
\sar
Yes, but do they have an exit strategy? This could be a quagmire! /Dem reaction
Imagine believing in freedom.
This is democracy in action. Does Lebanon need to establish a constitution and have elections, etc. while the democracy lasts?
Having free open and fair elections in a country full of terrorist dictators is going to be interesting to watch.
Assasinations galore I bet. There is no way the Mullahs in Iran are going to allow another mid east country to fall into a real democracy without a fight.
Exactly the quote I am going to snip and send, along with the link, to all of the Bush naysayers on my email list (sadly, most of them are my family members). Then I can sit back and wait for the unanymous reply: "One doesn't have to do with the other."
To which I am already responding "Bullsh!t!!!"
Thats why the Iranian government should be cared together with Syria.
Not after but together.
add me please, and again I pray for the peace of Jerusalem
I'm with you, guy. 8^)
Now those in Iran who have been sitting and waiting for a reason to rise up must know what is happening inLebanon and what the power of the people can do. Hopefully the US Administration is working behind the scenes telling the freedom supporters in iran the "We got your back!"
IMHO this is a subtle side effect of the Iraqi election. a "dangerous notion" has crept into the mind of the lebanese, and probably others as well... let hope for the first of many dominoes.
I'm sure they are in Iran but ultimately it's on the backs of the people. If they want freedom, they need to rise up as Ukraine and Lebanon have. I'm praying for them, I'm certain Iran is cracking down with just this fear they will be next to topple.
Do you still think that GW and Dr. Rice do not know what they're in doing in the ME? :-)
I blame Bush
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