Lebanon's government was swept from power Monday night in the face of a mass protest and increased political pressure sparked by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri two weeks ago. In the middle of a dramatic parliamentary session, Prime Minister Omar Karami shocked the House by suddenly announcing his government's resignation as it was defending itself against a vote of no confidence. Karami said: "Out of concern that the government does not become an obstacle to the good of the country, I announce the resignation of the government I had the honor to lead. May God preserve Lebanon."The shock announcement stunned Parliament but was followed by cheers from inside the chamber and outside in Martyrs' Square as the 25,000 people who had gathered there since late Sunday night watched the debate in Parliament live on large screens. Leading opposition MP Walid Jumblatt said: "The people have won." Jumblatt was speaking from his home in Mukhtara, in the Chouf mountains, where he stayed yesterday due to security fears if he attended Parliament. Opposition members said the resignation marked the "first success of the peaceful intifada" it waged on the government in the wake of Hariri's killing.