Security Council OKs Resolution Pressuring Lebanon to Reject 2nd Term for Pro-Syrian President
09-02-2004 5:37 PM
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS -- A deeply divided Security Council 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 was adopted with the minimum nine "yes" votes, with the remain 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 seeking a second consecutive term _ effectively cancels the election of a president, a ballot that is rare in the Arab world where many leaders stay in office until death or forced removal.
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