BEIRUT, Nov 12: The Lebanon's president took sides on Sunday in the country's latest political spat, claiming that the Cabinet was no longer legitimate following the resignation of five pro-Hezbollah ministers.
President Emile Lahoud's position is a blow to his political rival, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, but does not carry legal weight because the Lebanese president is not empowered to dissolve the government.
Lahoud sent a letter to Saniora's office, saying that the 24-member Cabinet was no longer constitutional after all five Shia ministers submitted their resignations on Saturday. He based his position on Article Five of the constitution that states ''all sects should be justly represented in the Cabinet.''
There was no comment from Saniora.
The president's declaration of his position solidifies the political divide in Lebanon between anti- and pro-Syrian forces, with Lahoud and Hezbollah tilting toward Syria and Saniora and his allies oppose their powerful neighbour's influence over their country.
Hezbollah, two of whose ministers resigned, recently threatened to call mass protests Nov 13 with aim of bringing down the government unless Shia representation in the Cabinet increased to one-third plus one minister. Such representation would effectively give Shiite political groups veto power, because Cabinet decisions requires approval by two-thirds of ministers.
The Shia Amal movement withdrew its three ministers on Saturday after talks on a national unity government failed to agree on such a government. It wasn't clear if Hezbollah would still hold the rallies on Monday.—AP
