BEIRUT, 2 March 2005 — A day after forcing the Syrian-backed government to resign, Lebanese protesters returned to the streets of Beirut yesterday, this time demanding the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country.
Politicians began a complicated search for a new premier after two weeks of unprecedented protests forced the government of Prime Minister Omar Karami to step down.
Market fears of a political vacuum put the Lebanese pound under intense pressure, forcing the central bank to dip deeply into its foreign exchange reserves to defend the currency.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice welcomed what she called moves to restore democracy in Lebanon. “Events in Lebanon are moving in a very important direction,” she said in London. “The Lebanese people are starting to express their aspirations for democracy... This is something that we support very much.” Rice and French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier repeated calls for Syria to withdraw its 14,000 troops from Lebanon. Such calls have grown louder since the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Washington and Paris, cosponsors of Security Council Resolution 1559 demanding an end to foreign interference in Lebanon, called for general elections planned for May to be free and fair and suggested international assistance.
“They must have the opportunity to chart their own course through free and fair parliamentary elections this spring, bolstered by an international observer presence prior to and during the elections,” the countries said in a joint statement.
The Lebanese opposition found a supporter in the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani. The emir hailed the Lebanese people for forcing the resignation of their government, but also praised the government for stepping down.
“I think the Arab people salute (the fact) that the Lebanese people were able to bring down a government, (but) also salute the government which agreed to fall in the interest of the Lebanese people,” he told reporters after a meeting with visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
“Syria and Lebanon are neighbors, and the situation in Lebanon is worrying and painful... I hope peace” will prevail there, Sheikh Hamad said. Thousands of demonstrators turned a square in Beirut into a sea of Lebanese flags on Monday night and exploded into riotous celebration when the government unexpectedly quit. The jubilant protesters left in the early hours yesterday only to return hours later, vowing to keep up their street protests until Syrian troops left the country.
“Our hopes are growing regarding Syria’s exit after the resignation of the government,” Patrick Risha, a 22-year-old political science student said at Martyrs’ Square. The crowd, blowing whistles, chanted back: “Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence.” They sang in rhyming Arabic: “We are all, Muslims and Christians, against the Syrians.”
President Emile Lahoud will meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to begin talks on naming a new prime minister. Such a meeting could take place later in the week or as early as today.
