Report: Miqati Didn't Hand in Resignation, But Voiced Readiness to Step down in Favor of New Govt.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati did not present his resignation in light of the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Wissam al-Hasan, reported Al-Joumhouria newspaper Monday.
It said that the premier did not speak of resigning to President Michel Suleiman or the cabinet.
Miqati told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Monday that he did not hand in his resignation, but he had repeated to Suleiman what he had said months ago that he is willing to resign if an agreement over a national unity cabinet is reached.
“I accepted this position out of my convictions to protect the country and its people, especially people from my sect,” he stressed.
“These two issues will be at the heart of my actions until Lebanon ends its national struggle that has been going on for years,” he said.
His sources told al-Joumhouria that the premier's resignation could be one of many options to end the crisis.
Moreover, Miqati's other sources told al-Joumhouria that he received contacts and messages from international and European powers that highlighted the importance of calm and stability in Lebanon.
The sources told As Safir that the fact that the prime minister received contacts from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius after opposition supporters' attempt to storm the Grand Serail is a sign of an international will and backing for the government to remain in power.
Opposition supporters attempted on Sunday to storm the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut after Hasan's funeral, demanding the resignation of Miqati and his cabinet.
Miqati is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj pilgrimage this week.
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