Military

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=LEBANON/GOVERNMENT

BYLINE=EDWARD YERANIAN

DATELINE=BEIRUT

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Lebanon's parliament gave a vote of confidence Monday evening to the recently formed government of Prime Minister Rafik al Hariri. Edward Yeranian reports from Beirut that the vote came after five days of discussion and a stinging debate over Syria's military presence in Lebanon.

TEXT: Few seemed surprised that Mr. Hariri won the confidence vote, but many were caught off guard by the virulence of criticism leveled against Syria by members of parliament.

A heretofore unheard of call in parliament for Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon was made by 92 year-old veteran Christian house member Albert Moukheiber,

before being adopted as a battle cry by others.

Long-time Druze leader and member of parliament Walid Jumblatt stunned many on Friday, when he added his voice to the fray, calling for a general reappraisal of ties between Lebanon and Syria. A recently cemented alliance between Mr. Jumblatt and several Christian political leaders added force to the debate over Syria's presence.

Prime Minister Hariri's response that "Syria's presence in Lebanon was necessary," appeared to many observers as more of an attempt to calm the debate than a sincere endorsement of Syria' military presence.

Syrian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustapha Miro arrived in Beirut earlier Monday for a round of discussions with Mr. Hariri and as an apparent show of support for his new government. Syria has not yet responded directly to calls in parliament to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, but a close ally, the former head of the pro-Syrian Ba'ath Party, Assem Qanso, called Mr. Jumblatt "an Israeli collaborator."

Syria has nearly 35-thousand troops stationed across much of Lebanon.

NEB/EY/FC