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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanese gov. session canceled due to absence of ministers
2006-02-24
S'prise meter is a little twitchy.
Lebanese Ministerial Council's session on Thursday was canceled due to the absence of a group of ministers called "March 14 Alliance". Secretary-General of the Ministerial Council Suhail Bouji told reporters that Prime Minister Fuad Al-Siniora informed President Emile Lahoud over the phone that some ministers decided to boycott the session, and so it would be rescheduled. The five ministers representing the Iranian paymasters the Syrian overseers Hezbollah and Amal movements, in addition to two other ministers, arrived to the Presidential Palace to attend the ministerial session, while all ministers of the "March 14 Alliance" did not show up.

The Lebanese government is formed of 24 ministers.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Minister of Telecommunications Marwan Hmadeh told reporters in the Freedom Square that the "March 14 Alliance" ministers will not attend Ministerial Council sessions in the Presidential Palace, demanding Lahoud to resign "as he is no longer the president of Lebanon". Hmadeh added that "as a president, Lahoud is over", calling for his resignation and asserting that the government will remain intact. Acting Minister of Interior Ahmad Fatfat said in similar statement that the Ministerial Council will continue performing its duties but without sessions in the Presidential Palace. Fatfat added that "Lahoud should respond to the demands of the Lebanese people and announce his resignation" to allow the chance for establishing a sovereign Lebanon.

The alliance ministers gathered in Shuhada Square after postponing the ministerial session and sent messages to Lahoud through the Lebanese media demanding his resignation. Youth groups supporting the "March 14 Alliance" also announced that their activities will continue until March 14 to make Lahoud resign.
Posted by:Seafarious

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