Lebanese citizen-protest leads to downfall of pro-Syria government (Photo: al-Jazeerah).

JERUSALEM – Breaking 29 years of Syrian domination, Lebanon's pro-Damascus government fell after two weeks of protests and political maneuvers in the wake of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami announced the resignation of his government during a parliamentary debate today.

"I am keen that the government will not be a hurdle in front of those who want the good for this country. I declare the resignation of the government that I had the honor to head. May God preserve Lebanon," Karami said.

Syria has been blamed by many Lebanese for the killing of Hariri, which prompted massive protests calling on Damascus to withdraw its 15,000 troops.

The dramatic announcement came after the parliament held a previously scheduled session regarding the Hariri assassination.

Sources say a majority of ministers were inclined to cast a vote of no-confidence for the pro-Syrian government, but after a lunch break, Karami took the podium to announce his resignation.

His speech was met by applause from the opposition, which had seized upon public fury over the killing.

"Karami's resignation was predicted from the beginning of our protests. It is not possible to continue to lead a nation under occupation," a spokesman for Lebanese opposition leader Walid Jumblatt told WorldNetDaily.

Lebanese citizens defied a ban on protests (Photo: al-Jazeerah).

Defying a ban on protests, tens of thousands earlier today demonstrated in Beirut against Syrian interference in Lebanon, marching on the site of Hariri's assassination and holding vigils at the former prime minister's grave.

Sources say a larger number of Lebanese citizens from different factions were called in for protest events, but Syrian forces blocked major roads leading to Beirut and established hundreds of checkpoints that delayed protest traffic from northern and southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and Mount Lebanon.

But some soldiers and police reportedly sympathized with the protesters and were seen advising newcomers on how to evade the cordon.

Outside the parliament building, news of the resignation prompted a huge cheer from protesters waving Lebanon's red-and-white flag.

Demonstrators shouting "Syria out!" handed out red roses to soldiers and police.

"Today the government fell," opposition leader Elias Atallah told the crowd. "Tomorrow, it's the one huddled in Anjar."

Anjar is the eastern Lebanese town in which the Syrian intelligence chief is based.

Addressing the crowd, opposition legislator Faris Saeed said, "The battle is not over. It is just beginning. We want to know who killed Prime Minister Hariri."

The crowd chanted loudly in response: "Syria! Syria!"

Forcing a 'crucial choice'

It was not immediately clear what effect the fall of the pro-Syrian Lebanese government would have on Damascus and its continued occupation of Lebanon.

Many analysts agree Syrian President Bashar Assad considers his influence in Lebanon a key factor to his position in the Middle East and that a successful campaign to drive Syrian troops from Lebanon would devastate the Syrian government.

Assad largely depends on Lebanese trade to fuel the Syrian economy and has used Hezbollah militants, who maintain over 3,000 missiles on the Lebanese-Israeli border, to threaten the Jewish State and solidify Syrian regional power.

Dr. Walid Phares, Lebanese expert and senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington, told WND today's resignation will "force the Syrian regime to make a crucial choice."

"Either they can unleash their forces against the opposition, bring back the civil war or try to push Hezbollah to engage Israel," Phares said. "They do have one chance to save their face now and say they will accept what the new government would ask them, but we don't expect Assad to give up without a fight."

Assad said in an interview published today Syrian soldiers will remain in Lebanon until he receives what he called a guarantee of peace.

"Under a technical point of view, the withdrawal can happen by the end of the year," Assad told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. "But under a strategic point of view, it will only happen if we obtain serious guarantees. In one word: peace."

Syrian officials said last week troops would withdraw from mountain and coastal areas in Lebanon in line with a 1989 agreement, but there has been no sign of such a redeployment.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield said today all Syrian forces should leave Lebanon, as "the time has come for the Lebanese people to be able to face their own national decisions."

Karami's cabinet will continue to serve as a caretaker government until it appoints a new prime minister in consultation with parliament members. The new prime minister then consults parliamentary blocs to form his own cabinet, which must withstand a vote of confidence.

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