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Pro-Syrian Lebanese Premier Reappointed
3 minutes ago Middle East - AP
By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's president, emboldened by a massive pro-Syria demonstration, reinstated Omar Karami as prime minister on Thursday, 10 days after the Damascus-backed leader stepped down under popular and international pressure.
Karami, who had continued to lead a caretaker government, immediately invited the opposition to join him in a national unity government. He said he will begin consultations early next week with lawmakers to form a Cabinet.
"The difficulties we all know cannot be confronted without a government of national unity and salvation," he said. "We will extend our hand and wait for the other side."
But the opposition, who orchestrated the protests that led to Karami's Feb. 28 resignation, rejected the reappointment even before it became official.
They have complained that the national unity proposal was a trap to bring opposition members into the Cabinet without giving them a say in policymaking.
Karami suggested he might not proceed if he fails in bringing to bring all factions together.
"If there is no national unity government and if I am the obstacle then I am ready to bow out," he said.
Karami's return to leadership ensures Damascus' continued dominance in Lebanon's politics.
Syria is keen to keep its hold on Lebanese decision-making as it pulls its forces back to the smaller country's eastern Bekaa Valley and negotiates with the Beirut government on the troops' full removal at a later date. Lebanese officials have said the first phase pullback, including of Syrian intelligence, would be completed by March 23.
Syrian troop redeployment was picking up pace as soldiers evacuated positions in the north and center of the country. Long convoys of dozens of Syrian trucks and buses headed east on mountain roads late Wednesday and Syrian soldiers evacuated in convoys most of their positions in the northern port of Tripoli and two hilltop positions overlooking Lebanon's second-largest city.
Syrian President Bashar Assad decided to call the troops home after three difficult weeks, with the international community and even close Arab friends Egypt and Saudi Arabia forcefully demanding that the Syrian army withdraw from Lebanon.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) called on Syria to carry out a full withdrawal of its 14,000 troops from Lebanon and said he was sending an envoy to the region to discuss a pullout.
President Bush (news - web sites) on Wednesday kept up the intense campaign against Damascus, saying Wednesday that Syria's withdrawal plans in Lebanon are just a "a half measure" and that Syrian intelligence services exercise "heavy handed" influence in Lebanon's government.
Karami called for political dialogue and said he will try to form a Cabinet that includes all factions. He warned of "unforeseen dangerous results" to Lebanon's economy if the political vacuum and street protests persist.
"Therefore, I call on every one of all national forces to take part in a national dialogue on the table of the Cabinet and I am not putting any conditions," he said. "I will not form a Cabinet of one color."
Opposition member Samir Franjieh on Wednesday described a reappointment of Karami as a government escalation aimed at scuttling any attempts at dialogue.
"It is a step that greatly challenges the opposition and the people's feelings," said Franjieh. He did not say how the opposition plans to react.
The decision by the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud came after legislators, ignoring weeks of popular anti-government protests, advised the president during consultations Wednesday to rename Karami. He was virtually assured nomination after 71 of 78 legislators put forward his name, more than half of the votes required in the 128-member legislature.
Under the constitution, the president is obliged to comply with the choice of the majority of legislators.
Karami rejected suggestions that his reappointment was inspired by Syria, saying his supporters had the majority in the parliament and with the people, a reference to Tuesday's Hezbollah-organized rally in which hundreds of thousands of pro-Syrian supporters participated.
"It was a massive demonstration that asserted our legitimacy in the Lebanese street," he said.
But pan-Arab newspaper Al Hayat commented Thursday that Karami's reappointment was a "farce," wondering why the insistence on Karami.
"His staying in the same position is the first signal that those who make appointments in Lebanon are still the same and there is still no Lebanese will to change such tradition, which has hurt Syria as much as it has hurt Lebanon," wrote Abdul-Wahab Badrakhan, deputy editor of the respected London-based daily.
Karami's previous Cabinet, which governed from late October until he resigned in parliament Feb. 28, was among the most pro-Syrian government Lebanon has seen since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. U.S. officials had described Karami's Cabinet as "Made in Syria."
Karami said Thursday his new government will oversee the investigation into the Feb. 14 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri in order to find the culprits and "hand down the punishment they deserve."
Hariri's assassination, which the opposition blames on the Lebanese government and Syrian backers, was the catalyst for anti-Syrian protests in Lebanon and the increased international uproar against Syria. Both governments have denied involvement.
spillmind said:"All the Lebanese want to know their enemy, the enemy of Lebanon ..."
Answer is easy for those that have eyes to see.
Syria has been the area peace keeper since the 1970s when Israel was driven out.
Who overthrew the government of Iran & put in the puppet government, Shah of Iran ? (Subsequently driven out by the people of Iran.)
Who subsequently armed Iraq to make war on Iran ?
Who could be interested in destabilizing Lebanon so as to drive Syria out ?
Who has recently made war threats against most countries of the middle east and the Muslim world in general ?
Who has everything to gain by killing Hariri ? ( Hint: It certainly isn't Syria.)
This is your last "clue": Who made war against Iraq based on absurd lies -- the same lies now being used against Syria?
If you haven't figured it out yet, there's little hope for you, -- look below for the answer.
answer: THE CHIMP and the United States Government. Woweeee. Surprised ?
rtwngAvngr said:Regardless of things in the past: who is seeking to spread freedom of all kinds and who is a nation empowered by hezbollah and their oppressive tactics.
Who says that liberals are apologists for terrorists, dictators and thugs? Me, that's who!spillmind said:"All the Lebanese want to know their enemy, the enemy of Lebanon ..."
Answer is easy for those that have eyes to see.
Syria has been the area peace keeper since the 1970s when Israel was driven out.
Who overthrew the government of Iran & put in the puppet government, Shah of Iran ? (Subsequently driven out by the people of Iran.)
Who subsequently armed Iraq to make war on Iran ?
Who could be interested in destabilizing Lebanon so as to drive Syria out ?
Who has recently made war threats against most countries of the middle east and the Muslim world in general ?
Who has everything to gain by killing Hariri ? ( Hint: It certainly isn't Syria.)
This is your last "clue": Who made war against Iraq based on absurd lies -- the same lies now being used against Syria?
If you haven't figured it out yet, there's little hope for you, -- look below for the answer.
answer: THE CHIMP and the United States Government. Woweeee. Surprised ?
freeandfun1 said:Syria has been keeping the peace in Lebanon? yeah right.
A country that was once 80% Christian (Lebanon) is now 20% Christian. The Syrian MUSLIMS drove them out. That is NOT keeping the peace. That is a form of national identity genocide.
Sir Evil said:Absolutely amazing Spilly! I am at a loss here, but do me a favor and tell us why you have come to this conclusion?
It can be blamed on the Muslims within the country and their backing by the Syrian government. Period. To argue otherwise is to ignore the fact that the Christians, who did make up the majority of the country, have been driven out of the country.Hristowl said:Not really. The demographic balance shifted in favour of Lebanese Muslims back in the 70s and the Christians refused to alter the confessional balance of the constitution accordingly until 1990 (and under Syrian duress), by which time there there had been 15 years of civil war. It's a lot more complicated than that of course, but the current demography of Lebanon cannot be blamed on Syria.
Demography and emigration. Perhaps the greatest single danger facing Lebanon's Christians in the coming years is depletion through emigration and declining birth rates. It is estimated that throughout the long war years, close to 900,000 peoplethe vast majority of them Christiansleft Lebanon. Only a fraction have since returned. To make matters worse, a dubious decree approved by Parliament in 1994 naturalized some 300,000 people (mostly Syrian Muslims), or the rough equivalent of 10 percent of Lebanon's population. If naturalization of the remaining Palestinians in the countrywho are overwhelmingly Muslimgoes through as part of an overall peace settlement, then the Christians will be in dire straits. Reliable statistics are infernally hard to come by in a place like Lebanon, but the best and most optimistic estimates place the Christians today at around 40 percent of the Lebanese population.
rtwngAvngr said:Regardless of things in the past: who is seeking to spread freedom of all kinds and who is a nation empowered by hezbollah and their oppressive tactics.
freeandfun1 said:Syria has been keeping the peace in Lebanon? yeah right.
A country that was once 80% Christian (Lebanon) is now 20% Christian. The Syrian MUSLIMS drove them out. That is NOT keeping the peace. That is a form of national identity genocide.
Avatar4321 said:i thought it was pretty obvious why he came to the conclusion. He hates President Bush and thinks he is more evil than Hitler. course its all in his head. but lets just nod our heads and pretend he didnt say anything
spillmind said:everyone knows these strategic moves are to establish political capital in regions that would be beneficial to the united states financial and poitical interests.
PLEASE SPARE US THIS FREEDOM CRAP. :chillpill
if and when there are elections in lebanon, don't be suprised that they lean pro syria. AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE FREE
Hristowl said:Not really. The demographic balance shifted in favour of Lebanese Muslims back in the 70s and the Christians refused to alter the confessional balance of the constitution accordingly until 1990 (and under Syrian duress), by which time there there had been 15 years of civil war. It's a lot more complicated than that of course, but the current demography of Lebanon cannot be blamed on Syria.
w00t!!!!!!!!!!!!
spillmind said:A VOICE OF REASON?!!!
Said1 said:If that's the case, you might want to concern yourself with Russian "political capital" in Iran and Syria. It's interesting to see two enemies coming together wouldn't you say?
spillmind said:yeah, lord knows we've never broken bread with modern day 'enemies', eh?
it's either short term memory loss, or a mode of thinking that whatever is the interest of the USA is right, even if the stance takes a 180º the next generation. neither of which i subscribe to.
Said1 said:What are you talking about, EH!
