Lebanon's Premier Omar on Wednesday was quoted as saying he will seek a vote of confidence before an opposition no-confidence motion. "I am ready to step down today before tomorrow on condition that a consensus is first reached about a new government to avert a power vacuum," Karami said in an interview published by the Beirut-based An Nahar daily.
"I have to make certain that the resignation step will not be a leap into the unknown," Karami said in advance of parliament's session on Monday to question him about ex-premier Hariri's assassination.
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Wednesday that he expects further Syrian troop redeployments in Lebanon, and he sent his intelligence chief to Damascus to meet with President Bashar Assad to discuss increasing American and European pressure on Syria.
"Syria was to carry out some redeployment of its troops in Lebanon. Syrian President Assad promised to do so during our recent meeting in Sharm el-Sheik - and I think he will do this," Mubarak told Egyptian reporters.
On Wednesday, US President Bush told reporters in Germany that "the position of our government is Syria must withdraw not only the troops, but its secret services from Lebanon."
The pressure has intensified inside Lebanon and from the international community since the assassination of Hariri. "It is difficult for Syria to face the mounting pressure from the international community," Mubarak said.
