U.S., France Seek Security Council Resolution to Break Syria's Stranglehold on Lebanon

Lebanon's outrage against Syria's coercive dictation of Gen. Lahoud as president for 3 additional years is gathering unstoppable momentum. Patriarch Sfeir lamented the 'overnight betrayal,' Gen. Aoun called for nationwide civil disobedience and Druze leader Walid Jumblat angled for a rebellious 'no' in parliament.
The domestic turmoil coincided with a report by An Nahar Monday that the U.N. Security Council scheduled closed-doors consultations for later in the day on a joint U.S.-French draft resolution scolding Syria and calling for an end to its 28-year-old stranglehold on Lebanon.

But national and international resentment failed so far to stop the process in Lebanon's Syrian-controlled parliament to amend article 49 of the constitution and vote in Lahoud for an extra half-term in power. Speaker Berri said he would on Wednesday decide the date of the voting session. An Nahar said it would be next Monday.

Jumblat was reported by An Nahar to have decided to instruct his 16-man bloc in parliament in a meeting scheduled for later Monday to attend parliament's voting sitting and cast 'no' votes in defiance of Syrian pressure.

He is also reportedly engaged in talks with Qornet Shahwan coalition of center-right Christian politicians functioning under Sfeir's wing to team up in a bid to muster 43 members of the 128-seat parliament to sabotage Lahoud's extension, which needs a two-thirds 'yes' vote.

Qornet Shahwan has nine members in parliament and a few other allies. The defiance drive needs the support of Premier Hariri's 26-member bloc to stop Lahoud's installment for 3 more years.

Hariri is scheduled to return from vacation in Sardinia Sept. 4. As Safir said he would tender the resignation of his current government at the regular weekly session of the cabinet scheduled for Sept. 9, unless he decides to go along with the extension in parliament and stay on as prime minister until the general elections in spring next year.

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