Lebanese President Emile Lahoud says he will begin consultations with parliament this week to name a new prime minister. A presidential spokesman said the talks, mandated by Lebanon's constitution, will take place Wednesday and that a prime minister-designate will be named shortly after the talks end. The last prime minister, Omar Karameh, and his government resigned February 27th under intense foreign and domestic pressure following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Opposition leaders have blamed the pro-Syrian Beirut government and its Syrian backers for Mr. Hariri's death in a car bombing death. Both governments denied any involvement. Last week, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Beirut demanding the government resign.
