Friday, Mar 11, 2005
Friday, Mar 11, 2005 |
| International | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | International
By Atul Aneja
MANAMA, MARCH 10. Lebanon's President has reappointed the former Prime Minister, Omar Karami, who had earlier resigned in the wake of anti-Syrian protests, and asked him to form a new government. Shortly after his reappointment, the pro-Syrian Mr. Karami invited all parties to join a government of national unity. The decision came after hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people turned out to attend a massive pro-Syrian rally in Beirut on Tuesday. A day later, huge crowds held a demonstration in the Syrian capital, Damascus, in support of their embattled President, Bashar Assad. Despite the show of strength, the Syrian government has been under intense external pressure to move out its 15,000 troops from Lebanon, which have been stationed there since 1976. Earlier anti-Syrian groups had converged in Beirut to seek Damascus' withdrawal following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri last month. Syria has made a commitment to redeploy all its forces, and position them in the Beqa'a valley on the Lebanese-Syrian border by the month-end. After that, a joint committee of Lebanese and Syrian military officials would meet to decide in the next one month, the issue of troop pull backs out of Lebanon. Soon after the announcement, Syrian forces have been seen leaving their mountain strongholds. Eyewitnesses said convoys of Syrian military trucks could be seen heading east, where the Beqa'a valley is located. AP reports: Mr. Karami said he would begin consultations with parliamentary blocs to form a Cabinet early next week. ``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.'' He 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.'' ``I will not form a Cabinet of one colour,'' he insisted, and warned that if the situation deteriorates: ``I hold the side that does not participate in a national unity government responsible.'' The Opposition criticised Mr. Karami's reappointment even before it became formal. They have said that the national unity government was a trap to bring Opposition members into the Cabinet without giving them a say in policy-making.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2005, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
