Lebanese patriarch criticizes extension for Lahoud's term of office
Lebanon, Politics, 8/30/2004

The Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Nasrullah Sfeir on Sunday criticized the extension for the current Lebanese President Emile Lahoud for a new term office, considering that the situation is "regrettable."

In his Sunday's mass at the headquarters of the Maronite Summer Patriarchy in al-Deiman to the north of Lebanon, Sfeir said " what happened yesterday was fabricated in the night and implemented in the day time, very quickly."

It seemed that Sfeir -- who takes a hostile decision towards Syria -- referred to a meeting held on Friday evening on the wake of the special session of the prime minister between the chairman of the security and intelligence department of the Syrian forces working in Lebanon Rostum Ghazali and the Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri who was opposing extending for Lahoud's new term of office.

The Maronite patriarch explained that amending the constitutions in order to extend Lahoud's term of office shows that Lebanon has become "foot ball played by regional and international interests, as if its people have become strangers, and have nothing to do concerning Lebanese national matters," calling on the Lebanese to wake up.

However, in a special session held yesterday, the Lebanese parliament approved a draft resolution to amend the constitution, thus allowing for extending Lahoud's term of office. Only three ministers from the " Democratic meeting bloc" which is led by the Druze leader Walid Junblat refused the amendment which Syria views as important under the current conditions.

The Lebanese parliament will hold today a session to vote on the constitutional amendment.

Previous Stories:
  Hariri looms resignation, Washington opposes renewal for Lahoud   (8/27/2004)
  Syria supports Lebanon's national unity   (8/27/2004)
  Kabani and Qabalan urge Islamic Organization to move to end Israeli practices   (8/24/2004)

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