Hariri_NP1 quits_VVZ ,_, casting_VVG Lebanon_NP1 into_II further_JJR uncertainty_NN1 The_AT prime_JJ minister-designate_JJ announced_VVD he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ stepping_VVG down_RP ,_, 10_MC weeks_NNT2 after_II fruitless_JJ negotiations_NN2 to_TO form_VVI a_AT1 new_JJ government_NN1 ._. 
Beirut_NP1 ,_, Lebanon_NP1 Saad_NP1 Hariri_NP1 ,_, Lebanon_NP1 's_GE prime_JJ minister-designate_JJ ,_, announced_VVD Thursday_NPD1 he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ stepping_VVG down_RP and_CC abandoning_VVG efforts_NN2 to_TO form_VVI a_AT1 coalition_NN1 government_NN1 after_CS more_DAR than_CSN 10_MC weeks_NNT2 of_IO fruitless_JJ negotiations_NN2 ._. 
His_APPGE decision_NN1 casts_VVZ Lebanon_NP1 into_II renewed_JJ political_JJ uncertainty_NN1 ,_, requiring_VVG a_AT1 fresh_JJ set_NN1 of_IO consultations_NN2 between_II Lebanese_JJ President_NNB Michel_NP1 Suleiman_NP1 and_CC members_NN2 of_IO parliament_NN1 to_TO designate_VVI a_AT1 new_JJ premier_NN1 ._. 
"_" After_CS a_AT1 final_JJ round_NN1 of_IO negotiations_NN2 ,_, it_PPH1 became_VVD clear_JJ to_II me_PPIO1 that_CST some_DD &lsqb;_( parties_NN2 &rsqb;_) ,_, with_IW their_APPGE impossible_JJ demands_NN2 ,_, are_VBR in_II no_AT way_NN1 going_VVGK to_TO allow_VVI the_AT proposed_JJ cabinet_NN1 lineup_NN1 to_TO pass_VVI ,_, "_" Mr._NNB Hariri_NP1 said_VVD ,_, apparently_RR referring_VVG to_II the_AT Free_JJ Patriotic_JJ Movement_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 key_JJ member_NN1 of_IO the_AT parliamentary_JJ opposition_NN1 led_VVN by_II Michel_NP1 Aoun_NP1 ._. 
Hariri_NP1 's_GE decision_NN1 to_TO stand_VVI down_RP comes_VVZ as_RG little_DA1 surprise_NN1 ,_, and_CC it_PPH1 is_VBZ possible_JJ that_CST he_PPHS1 will_VM be_VBI reappointed_VVN in_II the_AT coming_JJ days_NNT2 ._. 
Fouad_NP1 Siniora_NP1 ,_, the_AT outgoing_JJ prime_JJ minister_NN1 ,_, and_CC Samir_NP1 Geagea_NP1 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO Hariri_NP1 's_GE key_JJ allies_NN2 ,_, both_DB2 said_VVD they_PPHS2 would_VM designate_VVI Hariri_NP1 again_RT ._. 
"_" The_AT game_NN1 is_VBZ completely_RR open_VV0 again_RT ,_, "_" says_VVZ a_AT1 source_NN1 close_RR to_II Hariri_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS spoke_VVD on_II condition_NN1 of_IO anonymity_NN1 ._. 
"_" Hariri_NN2 is_VBZ pondering_VVG his_APPGE interest_NN1 in_II being_VBG nominated_VVN again_RT ._. 
He_PPHS1 will_VM consult_VVI with_IW his_APPGE parliamentary_JJ bloc_NN1 and_CC his_APPGE allies_NN2 and_CC then_RT we_PPIS2 will_VM see_VVI ._. "_" 
Why_RRQ the_AT negotiations_NN2 have_VH0 stalled_VVN The_AT pro-West_ND1 March_NP1 14_MC coalition_NN1 ,_, of_IO which_DDQ Hariri_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 top_JJ leader_NN1 ,_, won_VVD a_AT1 narrow_JJ victory_NN1 at_II the_AT elections_NN2 in_II June_NPM1 ,_, securing_VVG 71_MC seats_NN2 in_II the_AT 128-seat_JJ parliament_NN1 ._. 
Initial_JJ negotiations_NN2 saw_VVD 15_MC portfolios_NN2 in_II the_AT 30-seat_JJ cabinet_NN1 going_VVG to_II March_NPM1 14_MC ,_, with_IW 10_MC for_IF the_AT opposition_NN1 ,_, led_VVN by_II the_AT militant_JJ Shiite_NN1 Hezbollah_NP1 ._. 
President_NNB Suleiman_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 neutral_JJ figure_NN1 ,_, would_VM select_VVI the_AT remaining_JJ five_MC ministers_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB subsequent_JJ negotiations_NN2 foundered_VVD over_II the_AT naming_NN1 of_IO ministers_NN2 ._. 
The_AT negotiations_NN2 are_VBR complicated_VVN by_II the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST the_AT country_NN1 's_GE major_JJ political_JJ factions_NN2 often_RR pursue_VV0 the_AT support_NN1 of_IO outside_JJ forces_NN2 --_JJ chief_NN1 among_II them_PPHO2 Syria_NP1 and_CC Saudi_NP1 Arabia_NP1 --_NN1 to_TO gain_VVI the_AT upper_JJ hand_NN1 against_II their_APPGE rivals_NN2 at_II home_NN1 ._. 
Some_DD analysts_NN2 accuse_VV0 Syria_NP1 and_CC Iran_NP1 of_IO instructing_VVG their_APPGE allies_NN2 in_II the_AT opposition_NN1 to_TO delay_VVI the_AT formation_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Lebanese_JJ government_NN1 as_II a_AT1 bargaining_NN1 chip_NN1 in_II future_JJ talks_NN2 with_IW the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 and_CC the_AT West_ND1 ._. 
Others_NN2 maintain_VV0 that_CST the_AT Saudis_NN2 ,_, Egyptians_NN2 ,_, and_CC Americans_NN2 are_VBR leaning_VVG on_II Hariri_NP1 not_XX to_TO yield_VVI to_II the_AT opposition_NN1 's_GE demands_NN2 ._. 
Still_RR others_NN2 aver_VV0 that_CST it_PPH1 is_VBZ ,_, in_II fact_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 lack_NN1 of_IO guidance_NN1 from_II Syria_NP1 ,_, Iran_NP1 ,_, Saudi_NP1 Arabia_NP1 ,_, and_CC other_JJ foreign_JJ players_NN2 that_CST has_VHZ left_VVN Lebanese_JJ politicians_NN2 scrambling_VVG to_II second-guess_JJ what_DDQ it_PPH1 is_VBZ that_CST their_APPGE respective_JJ external_JJ sponsors_NN2 actually_RR want_VV0 ._. 
