Now Lebanon - Rahhal to PM: Agree on STL funding or resign, October 4, 2011

Future bloc MP Riad Rahhal said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Najib Mikati should either agree on the issue of Lebanon’s share of funding to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon or resign.
“When the issue is brought up in cabinet, the prime minister has two options: to either agree on funding [the United Nations-backed tribunal] or resign,” he told Voice of Lebanon (100.5) radio
“Since the premier constitutionally represents the cabinet and speaks on its behalf, then when he speaks [in front of the international community] and speaks of [Lebanon committing to] international resolutions, he is speaking on behalf of the cabinet.”
Rahhal also commented on recent reports of security threats targeting UN buildings and personnel, saying: “This is pressure, and they want to use the ‘Lebanese card’ because this is their last card after losing the ‘Hamas’ one.”
“They want to send a message to the United Nations… and put pressure on it for the positions it is taking,” he added, although he was not clear to whom he was referring.
The Hezbollah-led March 8 parties – which currently dominate Lebanon’s cabinet – have opposed a clause in the Lebanese annual state budget pertaining to the funding of the tribunal that indicted Hezbollah members for Rafik Hariri’s murder.
Lebanon contributes 49 percent of the STL’s annual funding.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a historic bid for UN membership on September 23. But the United States has vowed to veto the application if it comes to a Security Council vote.