U.N. OKs Plan to Sway Lebanese Election

[G_j]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4470893,00.html

U.N. OKs Plan to Sway Lebanese Election

Friday September 3, 2004 6:16 AM

By EDITH M. LEDERER

Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The Security Council narrowly approved a U.S.-backed resolution late Thursday aimed at pressuring Lebanon to reject a second term for its pro-Syrian president and calling for an immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces - an indirect reference to Syrian troops.

The resolution, introduced by the United States and France, was adopted with the minimum nine ``yes'' votes, with the remaining six countries on the council abstaining.

The council approved the resolution just hours before Lebanon's Parliament was scheduled to vote to amend the constitution so that President Emile Lahoud can keep his job.

Amending the constitution - which currently forbids a president from seeking a second consecutive term - would effectively cancel the presidential election, a ballot that is rare in the Arab world, where many leaders stay in office until death or forced removal.

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[lapfog_1]

1. Bush didn't say that we were going to spread democracy

just freedom... our brand of freedom!

[mom cat]

2. Corporate freedom uber allis!