Although Robert will be doing a lengthy Lebanon post later, I thought that the latest maneuver by Emile Lahoud and the Syrian regime warranted an early post.

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud is said ready to re-designate outgoing Premier Karami (who resigned in the face of protests) to form a new pro-Syrian government:

The re-designation is bound to reverse the fortunes of a peaceful opposition uprising to shake off Syria’s 29-year-old suffocating hegemony, which was sparked by the assassination of ex-Premier Hariri three weeks ago. It is also locally seen as a slap to President Bush’s contention that “democracy is knocking at Lebanon’s door.”

Bush has served a clear-cut ultimatum on President Assad Tuesday to pull out his entire army and security personnel form Lebanon before the spring elections of a new Lebanese parliament so that these elections would be “free and fair,” or become “even more isolated from the world.”

An Nahar said the opposition boycott of Wednesday’s consultations has set the grounds for Karami’s re-designation by at least 60-to-64 votes of the 128 parliament members.

Speaker Berri set the pace of the pro-Karami drive. “I have nominated Omar Karami, begging Bahia Hariri’s pardon,” Berri told reporters as he emerged from a meeting with President Lahoud. Hariri’s sister, who is a parliament member, has been widely tipped as Lebanon’s next prime minister.

Asked to comment on his impending return to the premiership after his resignation nine days ago, Karami told An Nahar “I am not enthusiastic. But let’s wait and see how things go.” The remark was interpreted by the newspaper as clear indication that Karami would accept the re-nomination.

More here.