Lebanon: The anti-Syrian Lebanese opposition rejected the reappointment of prime minister Omar Karami yesterday, 10 days after he was forced to resign in the face of massive street demonstrations. "Reinstating Omar Karami after he fell by popular and parliamentary will is a provocation to the Lebanese public opinion that toppled him," said Faris Said, one of two MPs asked to present the opposition's demands to the Syrian-backed president, Émile Lahoud.
These demands include a timetable for a complete withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, the resignation of the chiefs of the Lebanese intelligence services and an international investigation into the assassination of the former prime minister, Rafik Hariri.
President Lahoud's inability to find a more suitable prime minister is an indication of the leadership void in the Sunni Muslim community following Mr Hariri's death. According to the national pact, the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim. Mr Hariri held the post for 10 of the past 12 years.
Mr Karami told reporters: "The only way to confront all the difficulties facing the nation is a government of national unity." He blamed the opposition in advance for its refusal to co-operate, saying: "If there is any procrastination in responding to this invitation, it means we're heading to destruction."
Mr Karami said he would not form a government composed of any single grouping and emphasised that he would step down again if necessary. His reappointment raises the possibility of a drawn-out constitutional crisis. In the absence of a government, parliament cannot pass a law required for the holding of elections by the May 31st deadline.
Anti-Syrian protesters in Martyrs' Square tried to put a brave face on the setback, but there was no hiding their discouragement. Since the Shia Muslim Hizbullah held a 500,000-strong demonstration on Tuesday, the anti-Syrian camp has ceased daytime protests.
A few young men remain by the tents in which they have lived for the past three weeks. "We have our dignity and we will stay until we get our freedom," said Hissam Zeid (23), a Druze business student. "Let Omar Karami go and work in Syria."
The Druze opposition leader, Walid Jumblatt, praised Hizbullah after its rally. But Hissam Zeid repeated allegations that the demonstration had been comprised of "Syrians, Palestinians and people who were forced to come". The pro-Syrian rally was meaningless, he insisted. "They didn't know what they were here for."
Elias Shoueifaty (19), a student of political science, admitted that the Hizbullah demonstration had raised the morale of the Syrian loyalists, but he said he refused to accept the decision of the 71 of 128 MPs who had voted for Mr Karami, because they had been elected in what he said were unfair elections.
"For us, the Hizbullah numbers don't matter," said student Jean Tawile (20). He is helping to organise a display tomorrow of a human Lebanese flag composed of 5,000 people holding red, white and green placards. "The outer edges will be black, for mourning," he added.
Naim Semaany (27), a teacher, said that the reappointment of Mr Karami was immaterial. "The problem is the Syrian withdrawal," he explained.
Supporters of Hizbullah have been encouraged to say that they respect the opposition's right to their opinions. But the frustration in Martyrs' Square found expression in harsh words yesterday. "Karami, Lahoud (the outgoing interior minister, Suleiman Lahoud), Frangieh . . . they are all Syrian collaborators," said Naim Semaany.