Under intense public pressure over its allegiance to Syria, the Lebanese government abruptly resigned Monday even though it appeared likely to have survived a no-confidence vote in parliament.
The resignation came as more than 25,000 protesters gathered near parliament to demand that the government step down after the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, two weeks ago. Many Lebanese have blamed Hariri's killing on Syria and its Lebanese allies.
Syria, which has kept thousands of troops in the country since 1975, has denied involvement in the Feb. 14 bombing that killed Hariri.
Even if Syria was not behind Hariri's death, it is likely to pay the political cost as international pressure mounts on it to end its political and military dominance over Lebanon.
As parliament convened for a marathon session debating the government's future, Prime Minister Omar Karami announced that he and his 30-member Cabinet would step down so they \do not become an obstacle to the good of the country.'
Protesters watching Karami on a large TV screen in downtown Beirut erupted in cheers and applause. They waved the red, white and green Lebanese flag and chanted ""Syria Out!""
Longtime Madison activist and former alder and mayoral candidate Eugene Parks died of natural causes Monday.
Parks, 57, grew up in Madison and as a young man served on the Madison City Council in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He served as administrative assistant to the fire chief and was later the city's affirmative action director, The Capital Times reported Monday.
Parks was the first African American to run for mayor of Madison in the general election in 1999. He won 20 percent of the vote against then Mayor Sue Bauman. He began another campaign for mayor in 2002, but ultimately decided not to run.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will give the keynote address at the Wisconsin Women in Government's 18th Scholarship Recognition Banquet in Madison April 29 at the Monona Terrace.
Wisconsin Women in Government gives six scholarships for women attending colleges and technical schools around the state, with the aim of encouraging women to choose careers in government service.
