Lebanon's ex-PM resumes post
But opposition say they may try to bring down Karami again
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 Syria and Lebanon announce the pullback of Syrian troops.
 Lebanese troops circle Syrian intelligence headquarters.
 The complex relationship between Lebanon and Syria.
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BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has reappointed staunchly pro-Syrian Premier Omar Karami to form the next government, 10 days after Karami quit under popular pressure.
Karami, a Sunni Muslim, immediately called Thursday for a national unity government -- but the opposition firmly refused the invitation to join.
CNN's Beirut Bureau Chief Brent Sadler said the opposition regarded Karami's return as "a very firm slap in the face."
"The difficulties we all know cannot be confronted without a government of national unity and salvation," Karami said in his statement accepting the job.
But an opposition MP loyal to assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri said her bloc would not take part in a unity government.
"We will not take part in any government before our demands are met," Ghenwa Jalloul told Reuters.
The opposition have demanded a full Syrian withdrawal, the resignation of Syrian-backed Lebanese security chiefs and an international investigation into last month's killing of Hariri.
President Lahoud refused those demands, saying they had to be dealt with by the next government.
"The polarized politics of this country are set to continue," CNN's Sadler said.
He added that the opposition were now planning their strategy and were prepared to bring down the Karami government again if he appointed what they regarded as a hostile cabinet.
The decision by the pro-Syrian Lahoud came after parliament, ignoring weeks of anti-government protests, advised the president during consultations to rename Karami.
He was virtually assured of nomination after 71 legislators put forward his name, more than half of the votes required in the 128-member legislature. The opposition boycotted the nomination process.
Under the constitution, the president is obliged to comply with the choice of the majority of legislators.
Karami's resigned on February 28 following huge mass demonstrations in Beirut against his government and Syria after former Lebanese PM Hariri was killed in a bombing on February 14.
Many Lebanese have blamed Hariri's killing on Lebanon's government and Syria. Both have denied responsibility.
Those protests prompted a huge pro-Syrian rally in Beirut, organized by the Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah. (Full story)
On Wednesday, a mass demonstration was held in the Syrian capital Damascus in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose government is under international pressure to withdraw from Lebanon. (Full story)
Pro-Syrian parliament members were emboldened in their choice of Karami by the huge protest in Beirut Tuesday that showed loyalty to Syria, The Associated Press said.
Bringing Karami back ensures Damascus' continued dominance in Lebanon, AP added.
Thursday's appointment comes as Syrian troops continued the first phase of a pullback from Lebanese positions.
Late Wednesday Syrian soldiers evacuated positions in the north and center of the country, AP reported.
Long convoys of Syrian trucks and buses headed east on mountain roads, and Syrian soldiers evacuated most of their positions in the northern port of Tripoli, witnesses said.
In some cases, Lebanese soldiers quickly took over the Syrian bases. In north Lebanon's Batroun district, local residents cheered and waved Lebanese flags after the Syrians departed.
The pullback was announced after the Syrian and Lebanese presidents agreed to a troop redeployment under the 1989 Taif Accord, not U.N. Resolution 1559.
The Taif agreement calls for a pullback to the Bekaa Valley and later, after more discussions, into Syria. Resolution 1559 calls for the complete and immediate withdrawal of Syrian troops.
Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
