Omar Karami Passes Away after Long Battle with Illness
Former Prime Minister Omar Karami passed away overnight Wednesday at the age of 80 after a long battle with illness.
The family issued a statement on Thursday saying: “with a lot of grief we announce the death of PM Omar Karami, who passed away today.”
“We have lost a precious person and the best husband, father and grand father.”
His health had been deteriorating for the past two years, and he was admitted to hospital a month ago, falling into a coma a few days before his death.
Karami came from a Lebanese Sunni political dynasty -- his father was one of the architects of Lebanon's independence in 1943 -- and served as prime minister twice.
But both his terms ended with him resigning under public pressure.
Karami was Prime Minister of Lebanon for the first time from 24 December 1990, when Selim al-Hoss gave up power, until 13 May 1992, when he resigned due to economical instability.
He was sworn in again on 26 October 2004 and resigned on 19 April 2005, amid protests following the assassination of the ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Karami was a longtime ally of the Syrian regime and was accused of subservience to President Bashar Assad.
He was educated in Cairo, and was married with four children, including son Faisal, a former minister.
Prime Minister Tammam Salam offered his condolences to the family for the death of Karami, saying: “He left behind him a great legacy that will live forever in the memories of the nation.”
“He realized the meaning of Lebanon and the importance of preserving coexistence,” Salam said, describing him as the “man of moderation.”
Several politicians, including Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel, former PM Najib Miqati, ex-PM Fouad Saniora, Progressive Socialist Party's media official Rami Rayyes, AMAL's Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and religious figures offered their condolences to the Karami Family.
The body of Karami will be buried on Friday at noon at the family's cemetery in Tripoli's Bab al-Ramel neighborhood.
PM Salam later declared an official three-day period of mourning and said flags on every public building would fly at half-mast for three days from Friday to mourn the death of ex-PM Karami.
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