Lebanese lawmakers voted on Wednesday to bring back pro-Syrian prime minister Omar Karami, who was forced to step down last week by opposition protests.

More than half the votes in the 128-member legislature went to Karami, according to a report on Washington Post Web site on Wednesday, citing an unofficial count.

President Emile Lahoud is expected to make a formal announcement as early as Wednesday night or Thursday.

Restoring Karami as prime minister is sure to enrage the opposition, who led weeks of protests against Syria -- including one on February 28 amid which Karami announced resignation of his government. Karami has been leading a caretaker government since then.

Syria's ambassador to the United States hinted on Tuesday that Syria will complete the withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon before the Lebanese parliamentary elections in May. Enditem