Tuesday 01 March 2005, 11:51 Makka Time, 8:51 GMT
Prime Minister Umar Karami resignated from his job after a mass demonstration made clear the opposition want the Syrian troops to leave the country (They invaded Lebanon during 1991 with about 15,000 soldiers).
The assassination of the former Prime Minister (who left the government last October to protest against the Syrian occupation) sparked a wave of doubts about the legitimacy of the actual cabinet.
Karami announced his decision of quitting the executive in parliamentary debate about Hariri's death, he said,
"I announce the resignation of the government over which I had the honour of presiding so that it does not pose an obstacle to what is considered by some as the good of the country,"
Many politicians of the opposition blamed his government to be dangerously close to Syria.
This new resignation was anyway a surprise for Lebanon.
Karami's government has been leading the country for only four months, the National Assembly welcomed the Prime Minister's decision with a loud and long applause, while the streets below were crowded with about 60, 000 people chanting,
"Your turn will come, Lahud, and yours, Bashar," refferring to Syrian President Bashar al-Asad who commented,
"If we really killed al-Hariri that would be political suicide for us. Beyond ethical and human principles, the question is who benefits from the crime? Certainly not Syria," he told the Italian daily left-centered Newspaper, "La Repubblica".
On the other hand, Washington declared itself "very interested" in any possible development of the situation and White House spokesman Scott McClellan said,
"The resignation of the Karami government represents an opportunity for the Lebanese people to have a new government which is truly representative of their country's diversity."
The future of this country remains uncertain in a difficult international moment.
Il Romanaccio at 12:30 PM
