Karami Withdraws Resignation as Lebanese Premier

Lebanese Premier Rashid Karami withdrew his Cabinet’s resignation Wednesday after a two-day conference of top Lebanese Muslim leaders held here under Syrian sponsorship, Syria’s vice president announced.

Karami, 63, submitted the resignation last Wednesday to protest a battle for control of West Beirut in which Shia and Druze militias defeated the Sunni Muslim’s Murabitoun faction for control of the Lebanese capital’s Muslim sector. The battle claimed 40 lives, and 170 people were wounded.

The Sunni Muslim prime minister’s “national unity” government was formed a year ago with the backing of the Syrians, who have strong influence with Lebanese President Amin Gemayel, a Maronite Christian.

The Syrian vice president, Abdel-Halim Khaddam, presided over the conference of the 12 senior religious and political leaders of Lebanon’s Sunni, Shia and Druze sects.

Khaddam said the conferees also agreed that the predominantly Shia 6th Brigade of the Lebanese army will take over security duties in West Beirut from the Shia and Druze militias. Sunni leaders have demanded that central government authority be reinstated in place of the two militias.

A communique said a security committee representing the warring militias and the army has been set up to oversee the withdrawal of Shia and Druze fighters from West Beirut.