By HASSAN M. FATTAH
Published: February 28, 2005
BEIRUT,Feb. 28 - In an apparent victory for Lebanon's opposition movement, Prime Minister Rashid Karami resigned from office today, dissolving the country's pro-Syrian government and setting the stage for what could be a dramatic change in the relationship between Syria and Lebanon.
Mr. Karami's announcement came as more than 25,000 flag-waving protesters massed outside Parliament, chanting "Syria out!" two weeks after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. When news of Mr. Karami's resignation reached the crowds, a cheer erupted throughout the square where they had gathered.
Mr. Karami made his terse announcement moments after Parliament reconvened this evening to continue debate on a no-confidence measure against the current Syrian-backed government.
"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," Mr. Karamisaid in a brief statement. "May God preserve Lebanon."
With the dissolution of the Mr. Karakmi's cabinet, a caretaker government will be assigned to lead Lebanon until parliamentary elections, already planned for May, are held.
Mr. Karimi's government had been under pressure to resign in the wake ofMr. Hariri's assassination on February 14, as outraged Lebanese blamed Syria for Mr. Hariri's slaying. In streets protests that have drawn tens of thousands, the calls for Lebanon's pro-Syrian government to step down and for Syria to withdraw its 15,000 troops positioned in Lebanon have grown more insistent every day.
Both governments have denied involvement in Mr. Hariri's assassination.
Mr. Karami became prime minister after Mr. Hariri resigned last October in protest over the lifting of term limits on Lebanon's presidency that allowed the pro-Syrian President Lahoud to remain in office for three more years.
Last week Syria, responding to pressure from Washington and the European Union, announced that it would move its military forces stationed throughout Lebanon to the Bekaa region near the Syrian border and, eventually, out of Lebanon altogether.
Today's demonstration at Beirut's Martyr's Square was organized in defiance of an Interior Ministry order against such protests.
Some observers worried that Mr. Karami's resignation would only feed growing instability that has hurt Lebanon's economy and said it could create further divisions in the country, which has been rebuilding since the 15-year civil war ended in 1990.
"In my opinion, he wants to throw the responsibility on someone else and that somebody else will not be able to solve Lebanon's problem," said Adnan Arakji, a close confidante of Mr. Hariri's who recently dropped out of the opposition movement. "I worry that these people don't know what they're doing. They now have to sit on the table and negotiate with each other or else the country will go to ruin."
Beirut's streets buzzed this evening with exuberant protestors who only 24 hours earlier had been barred by Lebanese army from entering the martyr's square.
"This is the time for the people to stand together or else we will lose this country," said Ala Andari,who camped out at the Marty's Square this evening. "We've had enough of the Syrians and their control, just give us our freedom."
