BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Lebanon urged members of the U.N. Security Council Thursday to vote against a U.S.-French draft resolution demanding Syrian military withdrawal.
Foreign Minister Jean Obeid said Lebanon's U.N. delegation contacted members of the Security Council asking them to vote against the resolution that requires Lebanon to respect the constitution and Syria to pull out its estimated 20,000 troops from its weaker neighbor.
"The issue of Lebanese-Syrian relations has nothing to do with the presidential elections and does not change regardless of who is the president of Lebanon," Obeid said.
He stressed that close Lebanese-Syrian ties resulted in better security and stability in Lebanon and might be further deepened and expanded.
The U.N. resolution is aimed at curbing Syrian influence and hegemony over Lebanon and its interference in the upcoming Lebanese presidential elections.
At the behest of Syria and as a result of its pressures the Lebanese parliament is to convene on Friday to amend the constitution to make it possible for Syria's staunch ally, President Emile Lahoud, to extend his six-year mandate which expires in November.
Under the Lebanese constitution a president cannot run for two consecutive terms.
