Lebanon Breaking: Government Collapses as All 10 Minister of "March 8 Movement" Resign

2125 GMT: Before he left Washington, Prime Minister Saad Hariri got his meeting with President Obama and Washington's supportive words.

Obama and Hariri urged all parties to refrain from causing further instability, and the White House said:

The efforts by the Hezbollah-led coalition to collapse the Lebanese government only demonstrate their own fear and determination to block the government's ability to conduct its business and advance the aspirations of all of the Lebanese people.

Obama also stressed the importance of the UN Special Tribunal on Lebanon "to help end the era of political assassinations with impunity" in the country.

1810 GMT: Prime Minister Hariri has cut short his trip to the US and is returning homes. There are reports that he will stop in Paris for a discussion with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

1415 GMT: In a press conference this afternoon, Minister of Energy Jibran Bassil said the10 Ministers of Hezbollah, Amal, and other parties in the "March 8 Movement" are resigning from the Government.

This effectively means the end of the coalition led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri. After months of stalemate, Hariri and the "March 14 Alliance" were able to form a Government by accepting certain conditions, including 1/3 of the Cabinet posts going to March 8 members.

The resignation of 11 Ministers will formally suspend the Government. Adnan Hussein, a "non-affiliated" Shi'a member, has also left the Cabinet.

The immediate dispute has been over the imminent report of the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon, investigating the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. For months, stories have circulated that the Tribunal would place blame on Hezbollah for the killing. 

The March 8 members said they would resign unless Saad Hariri, Rafik Hariri's son, agreed to their demand to convene an urgent Cabinet meeting over the Tribunal. On Tuesday, Syria and Saudi Arabia, announced their efforts at mediation had failed.

A senior official in Saad Hariri's Future Movement, Mustafa Alloush, said Mr. Hariri would not succumb to "pressure and ultimatums." He added, "The prime minister is not opposed to a meeting in principle, but he has commitments outside Lebanon now." 

Saad Hariri is currently in Washington to meet President Obama.