Update 13 January / The Iranian-backed Shia armed militia Hezbollah, part of Lebanon’s unity government, has resigned, confirming earlier reports that it planeed to do so and spark the government’s collapseEleven ministers are reportedly resigned following a stalemate on negotiations to limit a UN tribunal’s investigations into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. Members of Hezbollah are to be indicted by the tribunal.

The current Lebanese prime minister, Saad Hariri, son of Rafik, wants the investigation to go ahead and is scheduled to meet US President Obama in Washington 12 January.

Links to other sites: Jerusalem Post, Reuters, Washington Post

Parliamentary elections in Lebanon Sunday 7 June reinforced the government’s position and handed the pro-Western 14-March coalition 71 seats. Their opponents, a coalition led by Hezbollah, backed by Syria and Iran, won 57 seats. A big loser in the vote was former General Michel Aoun, a Christian who had aligned himself with Hezbollah. He has stated that he will work with the majority.

Some saw President Obama’s conciliatory speech in Cairo, Egypt last week as an important factor in voters’ decisions, denying hardliners the possibility to demonize the United States, according to the New York Times.  NYT, Le Monde, Now Lebanon