By Lin Noueihed, RABIEH, Lebanon, (Reuters) – Lebanese Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun said on Thursday the government should resign if it was unable to end a political crisis that has paralysed decision-making. Aoun, who heads a major parliamentary bloc but did not join a cabinet formed after Syria withdrew from Lebanon in April, called for early elections as a prelude to replacing pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, who has been under pressure to resign.

"The government crisis … is building up and we do not feel it is being remedied in a way that can bring results," Aoun said in an interview at his home in the hills above Beirut. "What does a government do in this situation? If you ask me what I would do, I would resign." Lebanon’s government, dominated by anti-Syrian politicians who won a majority in parliament in elections last year, has been in crisis since five Shi’ite Muslim ministers began boycotting sessions last month. The boycott began after the cabinet voted for an international trial for suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri last February.

By Nora Boustany, Saad Hariri , a Lebanese legislator and the son of slain prime minister Rafiq Hariri , said Wednesday that a recently renewed alliance between Iran and Syria and fallout from Tehran’s nuclear program could pose a threat to Lebanon."There is an international crisis on this issue. They will have to answer to the international community, not Lebanon," he said at a leadership forum at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Hariri came to Washington this week to meet with President Bush , Vice President Cheney , Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice , national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley and the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, C. David Wel c h .Iran’s standoff with international institutions over its nuclear ambitions could have an impact on Lebanon, Hariri said, given the armed presence in the country of Hezbollah. Lebanon should be spared possible repercussions, he said.

WASHINGTON – Lebanese parliament member Saad Hariri, son of slain prime minister Rafic Hariri, expressed interest in seeing the U.S. send equipment to help Lebanon protect its borders.

Speaking to a crowd of 150 and nearly a dozen TV cameras, Hariri, named to Forbes’ list of the World’s Richest People, also mentioned he aims to discuss this and other issues–including the investigation into his father’s death–with President Bush during a three-day visit to Washington. The pit stop follows meetings earlier in January with French President Jacques Chirac and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney during his Middle East tour focused on the Lebanon-Syria crisis and regional security.
Hariri has lived for the past few months in a self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia, where he holds dual citizenship and lives off a $1.25 billion fortune. Saudi Arabia is also the headquarters for Saudi Oger, a $3.25 billion (sales) construction and telecommunications company that employs 38,000 and was led by Hariri until his political career took off last year.

The leader of the Lebanese group Hizbullah on Tuesday told family members of Lebanese citizens missing in Syria that he would work with President Bashar Assad to try to learn the fate of their loved ones. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, a strong Syrian ally, issued the pledge during a meeting with about a dozen family members […]