LEBANON: GOVERNMENT RESIGNS

Описание: (19 May 1995) Arabic/Nat

The Prime Minister of Lebanon and his cabinet resigned Friday, as the country was rocked by strikes and corruption charges.

Rafik Hariri, a self-made billionaire submitted the resignations of his half-Christian, half-Muslim Cabinet to President Elias Hrawi - who accepted them. .

Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, resigned his cabinet Friday, amid widespread strikes in the country and allegations of corruption.

Hariri, drove in convoy to President Elias Hrawi at the palace in suburban Baabda to officially present the resignation to the President.

In his resignation letter, Hariri called for the formation of more cohesive Cabinet to "prevent attempts to derail Lebanon's recovery" from the 1975-1990 civil war.

SOUNDBITE:

"Your excellency, (President of Republic) I want to renew my total thanks for your co-operation with me and also my cabinet. I also renew my thanks to the generous Parliament and to his chief and to the ministers. I Want to present to you the resignation of my cabinet. And I wish You good luck in leading the country and to ensure the basis of the democratic life and to preserve the high interests of my country. God bless you and Lebanon".
SUPERCAPTION: Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri

President Hrawi, who accepted the resignation, asked Hariri to stay on until a new premier is named.

The 50 year old Prime Minister, is a Sunni Muslim, who has led his half-Christian, half-Muslim Cabinet since 1992.

Hariri's savior image has been tarnished lately, by worsening living
conditions, which sparked anti-government strikes.

The opposition charges that he was manipulating power to enhance
his personal fortune..which is currently estimated at five (b) billion dollars.

Hariri's main platform was to cement national reconciliation and launch long-delayed reconstruction to the country, ravaged by war.

Hariri developed an 18 (b) billion dollar reconstruction programme for the rebuilding of the country's infrastructure and bomb-ravaged Beirut.

But not all his cabinet members agreed with the plan, and publicly opposed him.

Some officials say Friday's resignation is just a ploy so that he can form a new cabinet made up of ministers who won't oppose him.

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