Ouster Of Lebanese President Sought?

[Not_Whistlin_Dixie]

From "The Media Line" (an entity about which I know nothing.)

On the ground that he's too chummy with Syria.

An anti-Syrian coalition in Lebanon known as the March 14 Forces is taking action to oust the pro-Syrian president of Lebanon, Emile Lahoud.

Rather than calling on him to resign, the group is preparing a political and public battle to end his mandate constitutionally, and they hope to accomplish this by March 14, 2006.

The group is circulating a petition among members of parliament calling for an early end to Lahoud's rule.

Lahoud's six-year term was extended by three years in September 2004, when Syria forced lawmakers to vote in favor of the move.

"GROUP PLANS TO OUST LEBANESE PRESIDENT" 20 February 2006
http://themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=12815

 

[Not_Whistlin_Dixie]

Linked article asserts French Pres. Jacques Chirac has decided that Pres. Lahoud has got to go. According to an "unnamed official" in Pres. Lahoud's office.

"Chirac Accused Of Working To Oust Lebanese President Lahoud" 20 February 2006
http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Syria/194907

 

[castlereagh]

Lahoud knows were the bodies are buried especially when it comes to Hariri and Chirac, the statement from Lahoud's 'office' sounds like a warning to Chriac to stay out. The united front of of the Lebanese to Syrians is over - the country is factionalising along religious lines, Hizbollah is becoming more and more annoyed with people like Jumblatt and Hariri has unleashed Sunni Islamist forces that the moron can not control. The status quo at the moment for Lebanon is the best option.

 

[Not_Whistlin_Dixie]

From the Associated Press.

In a surprise stop in Beirut on Thursday, [U.S. Sec. of State Condoleezza] Rice said she wanted to convey US support for the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Lebanese people as "as they work to have a fully sovereign, democratic Lebanon."

While saying it was for the Lebanese to choose their president, Rice hinted her country would welcome pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud's departure and said Lebanon needs "a presidency that looks forward, not back, and that defends Lebanese sovereignty."

"Syrian official press rebukes Rice Beirut comments" 25 February 2006
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1139395487084&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

Linked article says that the Syrian government replied, accusing Sec. of State Rice of being a troublemaker.