Karami delays formal announcement to abandon forming a government
Lebanon, Politics, 3/31/2005

Lebanese designated prime minister Omar Karami announced he decided to postpone his announcement to President Emil Lahoud on assigning him to form a new government until he notifies his allies in Ein al-Tineh meeting which includes officials, parties and figures supporting Syria.

Karami said following his meeting with President Lahoud "I put the President in the atmospheres of apologizing to form the government. I will notify him that officially after the Ein al-Tineh meeting," stressing rejection of accusations put by the opposition that he seeks by his apology to postpone the parliamentary elections which are due by the end of May.

He said "it is a matter of 24 or 48 hours and this matter will not take weeks." This news came following news on emerging differences between Lahoud and Karami on the nature of the government that should be made in order to enable the country to end the political crisis it has been passing.

At a time when Karami was persistent to form a national unity government bringing together the opposition and the supporters, news agencies said that Lahoud started to incline to the opposition demands to form a mini government.

Pro Lebanese government parliamentarian Qabalan Issa al-Khouri quoted Lahoud after meeting with him on Tuesday speaking of "his determination to proceed ensuring the appropriate atmosphere to form a government accepted by the majority of the Lebanese, so as to be able to perform its duty." These statements came with remarks by one official close to Lahoud in which he stressed that there is friction between Karami and Lahoud. He said "The president wants to facilitate matters, but the obstacle comes from Ein al-Tineh meeting, as string tightening game is played among sides of fears of losing the elections if it takes place in its set time."

On the other hand, the minister of environment in the resigned government, Weam Wahham, warned against an open government crisis if the opposition continued rejection in taking part in a national unity government.

Worthy mentioning that the opposition agrees to form a neutral government to organize the elections due in May because it is confident it will win the elections among the state of unrest in the country following the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri.

Previous Stories:
  Syria to completely pull out its forces before the Lebanese elections   (3/30/2005)
  Syrian forces complete first phase of withdrawal   (3/30/2005)
  Karami fails to form a government   (3/30/2005)

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