BEIRUT, Lebanon – Lebanon’s pro-Syrian prime minister said yesterday he would resign, after being unable to put together a government, and the head of military intelligence stepped aside in new signs the anti-Syrian opposition was gaining momentum in the country’s political turmoil.

Prime Minister Karami’s decision comes amid a deadlock over forming the government, which must be completed before parliamentary elections can be held. Elections are scheduled for April and May, and the opposition – which is expected to win them – is eager to see them held on time.

It was unclear whether the resignation would end the standoff. It could delay the ballot because it means the process of finding a leader for the government must start again from scratch.

But it could also be a signal that the pro-Syrian leadership is ready to bend to opposition demands, which would clear the way for the quick formation of a new Cabinet and the organization of elections.

Lebanon has been in political crisis since the February 14 assassination of a former prime minister, Rafik Hariri. His death in a bomb blast – which the opposition blamed on Syria and its Lebanese government allies – prompted giant street protests that forced the government at the time, led by Mr. Karami, to resign on February 28. Syria and the Lebanese government have denied any role in the killing and Damascus has been struggling to maintain its hold over its smaller neighbor.

In a slap to the opposition, pro-Syrian President Lahoud brought Mr. Karami back as a caretaker prime minister to form a new government on March 10.

Mr. Karami had sought to form a national unity government including opposition members. But critics said that aimed only to give legitimacy to a Cabinet that would still be dominated by Syria’s allies, and they accused Mr. Karami of proposing to delay elections that the leadership fears it will lose.

Mr. Karami told reporters yesterday that he would step down – but an official announcement would likely come in the next two days, after he consults with political allies and notifies Mr. Lahoud.

Mr. Karami accused the opposition of conspiring with America and France to make a unity government fail.

“That means the opposition does not want to shoulder responsibilities,” he told reporters after briefing parliament speaker Nabih Berri on his decision to resign. The Lebanese opposition is demanding a government formed from anti-Syrian politicians or one made up of respected, neutral figures mandated solely to set up the elections.

“The opposition’s priority is elections, not a new government. The opposition will facilitate the formation of any government that will help hold elections on time,” opposition member Samir Franjieh told the Associated Press.

Syria has dominated Lebanon for decades, with thousands of troops on its soil and with allies controlling the government and security forces. But Syrian troops have been reduced to 8,000 – the lowest level since they entered the country in 1976 during the civil war – and Damascus has promised to remove the rest.

In a sign of possible new flexibility from the leadership, Major General Raymond Azar, the head of military intelligence, stepped aside yesterday.

The opposition has been demanding the resignation of General Azar, four other top security chiefs, and the prosecutor-general, accusing them of negligence in the investigation into Hariri’s death and insisting fair elections are impossible as long as they are in place.