Lebanese Speaker 'Urges' Western Leaders To Name Suitable Premier

Straw said Thursday he was "very unhappy ... at the news that President [Emile ]Lahoud has asked the prime minister to reappoint essentially the same government in Lebanon."

In a telegram addressed to Straw, Berri said he had responded to the British official for two reasons: "First, because the appointment of the prime minister in Lebanon is in the hands of Parliament, not the president, and second because we hope we would be able to express our opinion in naming the British prime minister."

Berri concluded his telegram by expressing his "thanks for the planned democracy for our region," in reference to U.S., British and European efforts to establish democracy throughout the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry asked the Lebanese Embassy in the U.K. to explain to the British Foreign Department that the president does not appoint the prime minister, saying the appointment was the result of consultations between the president and MPs. The Foreign Ministry also said Karami was appointed to form a new government and not resurrect his resigned government.

Karami stepped down from his position as premier last Monday amid mass protests led by the opposition in Beirut's Martyrs' Square.

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