Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Omar Karami talks to the media announcing that he cannot form a Cabinet, a move that deepens Lebanon's political crisis and could effectively undermine legislative elections next month, in Beirut, Wednesday, April 13, 2005.(AP)

Lebanon's pro-Syrian prime minister stepped down on Wednesday, abandoning efforts to form a government to lead the country to general elections, but said there was still time to hold the poll as expected in May.

Prime Minister Omar al-Karami's resignation seemed to make timely elections more unlikely and deepened the political crisis triggered by the February assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Karami, who has now quit twice in six weeks, said he had hit a wall in trying to form a cabinet, whose main task would be to supervise the elections which the United States and United Nations say must go ahead on time.

"We have once again reached a dead end," Karami told reporters. "That is why I have invited you today to present my resignation."

An official said President Emile Lahoud would hold consultations with lawmakers on Friday to designate a new prime minister. Pro-Syrian MPs are a majority in the assembly and the new prime minister is expected to be a Damascus ally.

Political sources have said the elections could be pushed back by weeks or months by the delay in forming a government. But Karami said there was still time for the poll to be held.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she saw Karami's resignation as "an opportunity to move forward."

"Further delays are unnecessary. ... We expect the consultative process required to form a new cabinet will take place immediately," she said in Washington, reiterating the White House call for elections by the end of May.

A State Department official who asked not to be identified said the Bush administration was concerned a political stalemate could interfere with Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and the relinquishing of power by pro-Syrian politicians.

"Our worry is that all kinds of people would like to find an excuse to not do this, to not withdraw, to not have the election. So at every juncture we want to be very vocal on how the fact is that it is doable and must be done," he said.

Lebanese opposition accuse pro-Syrian officials of trying to delay the vote, in which the opposition is expected to benefit from popular sympathy over Harari's killing.

(Agencies)

assassination: murder of a public figure by surprise attack（暗殺）

reiterate: to say, state, or perform again（重申）