Lebanon Update

The New York Times:

Opposition parties gained ground on Tuesday in their struggle to push aside the country's pro-Syrian government, with both the prime minister and the chief of the country's powerful military intelligence agency signaling their intention to quit. Prime Minister Omar Karami, who resigned last month and had spent the intervening weeks trying to form a new government, postponed an expected announcement today that he would quit. Mr. Karami, who led a pro-Syrian government until public demonstrations forced him out, lost all hope of persuading the opposition to join him in a new government, his spokesman, Osman Majzoub, said. But Mr. Karami said after a scheduled meeting with the Lebanese president, Emile Lahoud, that he would step down only after political consultations later this week. Mr. Karami's pending resignation appeared to clear the way for opposition leaders to try to form a government on their own, one that would try to ensure that nationwide elections are held by the end of May.

It is starting to look more and more likely that a peacefull transition to democracy will take place. Good for them!