Lebanese parliament discusses the extension of Lahoud's term of office on Friday

Members of the Lebanese parliament will on Friday vote on amending the constitution in Lebanon so as it will permit the re-election of the current President of the Republic, Emil Lahoud, for a second term of office. A matter which raised internal and external criticism.

The parliament's commission said on Wednesday that a special session will be held on Friday to vote on the amendment. The parliament's commission, following the meeting, set a meeting at the headquarters of the parliament as a date for the beginning of the discussion and then voting the draft decision which was issued on Saturday by the government.

The ratification of the parliament of the government's draft decision to amend article 49 of the constitution, the approval of two thirds of the members whose total number tolls 128 parliamentarians.

The Maronite Church which represents the major Lebanese Christian communities in Lebanon on Wednesday strongly condemned the amendment of the constitution for extending the term of office for the President of the Republic.

The Patriarchs council, led by patriarch Nasrullah Sfeir, stressed in a statement that the amendment draft decision which is approved by the government " was imposed from outside the country and constitutional establishments were used to approve it and the ministers and parliamentarians were forced to take positions they do not want." The council added "it is an amendment for the constitution that violates the constitution."