WORLD IN BRIEF : LEBANON : Druze Chief Quits Cabinet Position

Druze warlord Walid Jumblatt resigned his post as minister-without-portfolio, dealing a blow to the half-Muslim, half-Christian government formed in Beirut to steer Lebanon out of civil war. The sudden resignation means the 30-seat Cabinet now lacks two of the three major militia leaders Prime Minister Omar Karami had sought to attract to the national reconciliation government he formed on Dec. 24. Christian leaders have charged that the new government tilts overwhelmingly toward Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon with 40,000 troops deployed there under a peacekeeping mandate from the Arab League.