4 Lebanese ministers resign in protest for amending the constitution
Lebanon, Politics, 9/7/2004

In the first measure of its kind in the course of the consequences of the decision taken by the Lebanese parliament which permits extending for the term of office for the Lebanese president for three more years, the Lebanese minister of the environment Fares Bueiz submitted his resignation from the government in protest of the decision.

Bueiz told journalists after his meeting with the prime minister Rafikc Hariri "It is normal that I submit my resignation from the government whose position contradicts with mine over the constitutional amendments." Bueiz, the first minister to submit his resignation from the government after the extension for Lahoud's term of office -- explained that he did not make this step before debating the extension to the parliament " in order to "avoid more tension." Bueiz opposed in the parliament a draft resolution to amend the constitution. A resolution which was approved by 96 parliamentarians and opposed by 29 parliamentarians and considered by the US as imposed by Syria on Lebanon.

This comes at a time when the Democratic Gathering bloc which is led by the Druz leader Walid Junblat also had its three ministers resign. This bloc held a meeting yesterday after its members, members in the government, voted against the extension project at the parliament alongside with the Christian opposition. The Democratic Gathering minister Marwan Hammadi, ( economy and trade ), Ghazi al- Areidi ( culture) and Abdullah Farhat ( expatriates ) are the three ministers who only opposed the draft amendment law of the constitution, when it was approved by the Cabinet.

Previous Stories:
  Lahoud for closer ties between Lebanon and Syria   (9/6/2004)
  UN Security Council calls for withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon   (9/4/2004)
  Lebanon defies the UN security council, extends Lahoud's presidency   (9/4/2004)
  Syria: UN security council voting over Lebanon's sovereignty is unjustified   (9/2/2004)

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