Lebanon PM Resigns, in repeated failing to form cabinet

Unable to form a government to lead the country to general elections, Lebanon’s pro-Syrian prime minister turned his resignation to President Emile Lahood on Monday,
but added there was still time to hold the poll on time in May.
Lahood has not yet accepted it.

Lebanon has been without a government since Karami stepped down on Feb. 28 in the face of popular Lebanese protests over Hariri’s killing, which many Lebanese blamed on Syria.

Karami was reappointed by parliament days later to form a new cabinet but decided to step down again, after repeatedly failing to convince both anti-Syrian opposition members and pro-Syrian allies to join.

The international forces want elections must go ahead on time. But “We have once again reached a dead end,” Karami told reporters. “That is why I have invited you today to present my resignation.”

Omar Karami’s resignation made timely elections more unlikely and deepened the political crisis.
Political sources have said the elections could be pushed back by weeks or months by the delay in forming a government. But Karami said there was still time for the poll to be held on time.

Lebanese opposition accuse pro-Syrian officials of trying to delay the vote, in which the opposition is expected to benefit from popular sympathy over the February killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Harari.

A prominent opposition Christian politician said ahead of Karami’s resignation that the opposition might call demonstrations to protest against what he said were deliberate moves to push back the elections.

“The delaying tactic is going strong,” parliamentarian Nasib Lahoud said. “If they go on, we might revert to popular pressure. We might go back to the street to force them to get on with it.”

Karami said he wanted to lead Lebanon to new parliamentary elections in May and apologized for not being able to put together a new cabinet.

Lahood asked Karami to form a new government after massive demonstrations for and against Syrian influence in Lebanon following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.