| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| U.S. Sez No Foreign Troops in Lebanon |
| 2004-08-27 |
| In an apparent reference to Syrian influence, the United States on Friday said Lebanon should be free of all foreign forces and stand by a constitutional provision that prevents a president from seeking a second term. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement the United States "believes strongly that the best interests of Lebanon and Syria are served by a positive and constructive relationship based upon principles of mutual respect and non-intervention" between the two neighboring states. Syria has an estimated 20,000 troops in Lebanon and is the main political power broker in the country with many Lebanese recognizing that Syria determines who will be the country's president. McClellan said the Lebanese people should be free to decide the fate of their nation and its leadership "without pressure or interference from any outside party." McClellan said the United States noted recent statements by senior Lebanese religious, political and civil society leaders calling for respect of the Lebanese constitution. "The United States looks forward to elections in Lebanon that respect Lebanese institutions including Lebanon's existing constitution and that are free of any His statement seemed to be a response to reports earlier this week that Lebanese President Emile Lahoud is saying he wants another six-year term in office, provided parliament approves. He has three months remaining in his current term. The constitution bans consecutive terms in office. In addition, many Lebanese politicians, including Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and others allied with Syria, Lahoud's backer, oppose extending his mandate. In recent weeks Lebanese politicians have been streaming into the Syrian capital of Damascus for meetings with Syrian President Bashar Assad, who apparently was sounding out their views on the next president. Under the constitution, the 128-member parliament must hold a secret ballot to elect a new head of state. A precedent was set in 1995 when Lahoud's predecessor, Elias Hrawi, got an extra three years in office under a constitutional amendment — backed by Syria — that specified a one-time extension for Hrawi alone. Washington has imposed sanctions on Damascus under the so-called Syria Accountability Act, which accuses Damascus of playing host to militant Palestinian groups and seeking biological and chemical weapons. The act calls on Syria to stop militants and weapons from crossing its border into Iraq and withdraw its estimated 20,000 troops from Lebanon. Syria denies pursuing weapons of mass destruction and says the long, porous border with Iraq makes it hard to stop infiltrators. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #2 Get out and stay out! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2004-08-27 5:29:53 PM |
| #1 Lebanon? what Lebanon? Greater Syria, methinks! U.S. State Dept. ne'er seen "official" Syrian maps? _____Kinda like the '42 German maps that extended all the way to Stalingrad... |
| Posted by: borgboy 2004-08-27 5:27:46 PM |