POLITICS: Lebanon's Prime Minister Resigns, page 1

Following the extension of President Emile Lahoud's term, Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri resigned Wednesday. His resignation was in reaction to what al-Hariri feels is his inability to rule in the current political climate. Talks on formation of a new government are set to begin on Thursday with former Prime Minister Omar Karami emerging as a front runner in the new leadership.

story.news.yahoo.com
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri resigned Wednesday after the pro-Syrian president's term was extended under what lawmakers called pressure from Damascus.

Hariri -- a billionaire businessman synonymous with efforts to rebuild from Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war and stave off fiscal collapse in recent years -- said he would not head a new government.

The presidential palace said President Emile Lahoud had accepted Hariri's resignation.

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It will be interesting to see what reactions and impact this will have on Lebanon's neighbors in the weeks and months to come. Hariri had, after all, been largely responsible for Lebanon's recovery from its civil war and had worked to hold off financial ruin for the country.

[edit on 20-10-2004 by Banshee]