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Syria Calls Shots in Lebanon Election

(AP/New York Times) Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud's six-year term expires Nov. 24 and Parliament must hold a secret ballot to elect a new head of state before Oct. 23. But no successor has been endorsed by the big blocs and there is little sign of campaign rallies. Instead, the country remains in suspense, waiting to see whether Lahoud will try to amend the constitution to extend his term without an election, as some of his close aides are suggesting. Most Lebanese are convinced that will happen if it's the wish of neighboring Syria, which has thousands of troops in the country and holds sway over its politics. So far Syria has not made its preference clear. Lebanese know that Health Minister Suleiman Franjieh is right when he says that "Syria is still the biggest voter in the presidential elections."
2004-08-21 00:00:00
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