Introduction to the evening news 25-11-2011

It was expected to arise from the Grand Serail, but it seems that it will arise from Rabiyeh. Following PM Najib Mikati’s statement that he would resign if the cabinet fails to approve the STL funding, General Michel Aoun overtook him on the root to the cabinet’s collapse as the Change and Reform bloc’s ministers boycotted today’s cabinet session. As a result, the session was rescheduled for next Wednesday.      

This step surprised the allies before the rivals. Will it accelerate the cabinet’s resignation?    

In the meantime, events are swiftly unfolding both in Syria and Egypt.    

In Syria, the deadline set by the Arab League for Damascus to sign the protocol expired. Syria’s refusal means that the Arab League officials will convene tomorrow to look into the possibility of imposing additional economic sanctions on Syria. The Arab foreign ministers are also expected to meet again on Sunday, this time in the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu.    

In Egypt, the crisis is getting more and more complicated. After the cabinet’s resignation was accepted to contain the streets’ indignation, it seems that the appointment of Kamal El-Ganzouri aggravated the situation as thousands of protesters cut off the road leading to the cabinet’s headquarters, to prevent Ganzouri from entering.    

Starting off, in Lebanon, Aoun announced a while ago that his bloc’s ministers are ready for all possibilities.