BEIRUT, Nov. 25-- Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's decision on Wednesday to postpone his resignation has provided Lebanon with the chance to maintain political stability, analysts said. They cited that Hezbollah has shown pragmatism and could even make certain compromise for the sake of maintaining Lebanon's political unity. When Saudi TV news channel Al-Arabiya broadcast a recording of Hariri announcing, in Riyadh on Nov. 4, his decision to step down as prime minister, Lebanon's one-year-old government was once again plunged into uncertainty. A year prior, on Oct. 31, Michel Aoun was elected Lebanon's president, officially ending two and a half years of presidential vacuum and political stagnation. The new government established by Hezbollah-backed Aoun and the Saudi-tied Hariri promised to maintain a "national accord," and de-escalate the political rivalries halting advancements in the country. Hariri's resignation announcement three weeks ago was a strong departure from his repeated promises to maintain political unity. His aggressive rhetoric calling for Iran and Hezbollah to step away from regional affairs stirred up widespread rumors that Saudi Arabia had written the speech and forced the prime minister's resignation. Despite the uNPRedicted move, Lebanon's government responded with overwhelming calls for peace and unity in uncertain times. In the first of three speeches following the resignation, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urged for nationwide "calm and patience until things are clear." Assuring listeners that "there is nothing to fear," Nasrallah's tone diverged considerably from routine rallying cries. |