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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanese PM Resigns, Dissolves Cabinet |
| 2004-10-20 |
| Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the self-made billionaire who rebuilt Beirut from the ruins of civil war, dissolved his Cabinet on Wednesday and said he won't lead the next government, a surprise move that could bolster Syria's role in Lebanese affairs. Hariri's decision could make him a more powerful force in Lebanese politics, building support among a disillusioned public ahead of parliamentary elections in May. It is more likely, however, to indicate that Syria is strengthening its hand in Lebanon by seeking to bring in an entirely loyal Lebanese administration to face the mounting international pressure on Damascus' dominance here. Syria has been the power broker in Lebanon for more than a decade. Hariri, who has been prime minister for 10 of the 14 years since the end of Lebanon's devastating 1975-90 civil war, submitted his resignation to President Emile Lahoud at a brief meeting Wednesday, his office said. "No one disagrees about the magnitude of the internal and external challenges faced by Lebanon," he said in his statement. "I deemed it appropriate to present the government's resignation together with declining to nominate myself to premiership." Lahoud accepted the Cabinet's resignation and asked Hariri to continue in a caretaker capacity until a new Cabinet is formed. But Lahoud, who has been locked in a power struggle with Hariri for several years, did not comment on Hariri's decision to step down himself. The two reportedly have been discussing the formation of a new government for two weeks but apparently failed to bridge their differences. In his statement, Hariri said the challenges facing Lebanon needed to be dealt with by a coherent team but cited the "known political realities" in his decision to quit and decline any possible invitation to form a new government. Officials close to Hariri said his resignation was in earnest, and that he would not lead the next government. But others maintained there may be still room for a Hariri comeback. "He won't be a puppet of Lahoud," said Ali Hamadeh, a political analyst with the leading independent newspaper An-Nahar. "This may not be the end." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 this is disturbing. Hmmmmm what would happen if there was a decapitating strike on Syrian leadership? Or an emasculating barrage on the syrian |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-10-20 8:24:26 PM |