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Lebanon minister resigns amid pressures

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Lebanese Minister of Tourism Farid Khazen resigned Friday citing the government's inability to deal with political tensions in the country.

"In line with my convictions and in assuming my national responsibilities I hereby announce my resignation," Khazen said in a statement carried on the National News Agency, ANI.

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"The current government is not capable of dealing with the dangerous situation in the country," he said, adding, "there is no alternative to national dialogue on the basis of the Taif peace pact."

Khazen's resignation came in response to mounting public pressure on the 30-member government of Prime Minister Omar Karami to resign following the Monday assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.

The Lebanese opposition held Syria and the Syrian-backed regime of President Emile Lahoud responsible for Hariri's death in a car bombing.

The 1989 Taif peace pact, which silenced the guns of the 1975-1990 civil strife, stipulated the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon.

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