Siniora isolated after Shia ministers resign
UN involvement in Lebanon is proving divisive to domestic politics
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Saturday, 11, Nov 2006 08:16
Lebanese politics is in disarray tonight after the shock resignation of five members of prime minister Fouad Siniora's cabinet.
The resignations are all from ministers loyal to the country's Shia Amal faction, which supported Hizbullah during the militant group's conflict with Israel this summer.
"To pave the way for the majority to practice what it wants freely and so that we don't cover what we are not convinced of. we announce the resignation of our representatives in the current cabinet," Hizbullah and Amal said in a joint statement.
The resignations undermine Mr Siniora's political hold on power, for the considerable influence the Amal group holds in Lebanese society forms a vital part of his coalition government.
The Amal group supports Syria, a country believed by many Lebanese citizens to have been behind the assassination of Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri last year. Syria denies any such involvement.
Discussions relating to a draft UN document preparing for a tribunal investigating Mr Hariri's death were expected to commence on Monday.