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| U.S.: U.N. resolution on
Lebanon soon A U.N. resolution affirming Lebanon's sovereignty is likely to be tabled soon, a U.S. State Department official said Tuesday. The official, who asked not to be identified, told reporters the United States had enough language on a resolution to call it a text, adding he expected it would name Syria and would be tabled relatively soon. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States had discussed the issue with various U.N. Security Council members. We feel Syrian pressure to modify the Lebanese constitution to permit President (Emile) Lahoud to remain in office for an addition three years is an affront to Lebanon's sovereignty and political independence, he said. The resolution is likely to affirm Lebanon's sovereignty and be in line with previous U.N. resolutions on the issue. Lebanon appears ready to amend its constitution so Lahoud
can serve beyond his six-year term, which is due to end in November. Although many
Lebanese are against such a move, Syria, the main power broker in the country, supports
the idea. Syria maintains troops in the country, a bone of contention between Damascus and
Washington, which wants all foreign forces out of Lebanon. |
