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Lebanon Premier's Resignation Exposes Lebanon to Instability

Lebanon's prime minister has resigned after two difficult years in office, opening the door to further instability in the country, writes Ali Hashem.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati speaks during a news conference at the Grand Serail, the government headquarters in Beirut, March 22, 2013. Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced his resignation on Friday after Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its allies blocked the creation of a body to supervise parliamentary elections and opposed extending the term of a senior security official. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3FCDX

Almost two years after taking office, Lebanon's premier, Najib Mikati, decided it's time to resign. He might have thought many times about the option, but only on March 22 did Lebanon's billionaire prime minister step down.

It's no easy day for Lebanon. The tiny Arab country is facing several complicated security, political, and social situations. On the border with Syria, guns and bullets have the louder voices. Premier Mikati's city, Tripoli, was the scene of widespread clashes between pro-Syrian regime Alawite militias and pro-Syrian opposition Sunni groups. In parallel, the country was facing a general strike that left students and many public servants away from their schools and workplaces. On the other side, politicians were in the middle of a fierce struggle over the electoral law, and the extension of the mandate of internal security chief Ashraf Rifi, a Sunni officer known to be very close to former PM Saad Hariri.

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