Lebanon's Pro-Syrian Government Resigns

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Syrian-backed Prime Minister Omar Karami, under popular pressure after the assassination of an ex-prime minister, said on Monday his government was resigning. "Out of concern that the government does not become an obstacle to the good of the country, I announce the resignation of the government I had the honor to lead," Karami told parliament in Beirut.

The government came under fire in parliament on Monday over the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri in a huge bomb two weeks ago, while streets away thousands defied a protest ban to demand it stand down.

The debate had been expected to close with a no-confidence vote in the government, but after a lunch break Karami took the podium to announce the resignation of the government.

His speech was met by applause from opposition deputies who had seized upon public fury over the killing to demand the resignation and call on Syria to withdraw its troops from its tiny neighbor.

Mon Feb 28, 2005 12:14 PM ET