BEIRUT, 2 September 2004 — Lebanese MPs will vote tomorrow on a controversial change to the constitution demanded by political master Syria to allow President Emile Lahoud to stand again, despite possible UN censure. “Everything is set for the Parliament session Friday,” said Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The amendment has triggered opposition at home and abroad and the United States, which accuses Syria of undue influence in the domestic affairs of its tiny neighbor, is pushing for a UN Security Council resolution to support Lebanese sovereignty.

Lebanese MPs will vote on a constitutional amendment to allow the pro-Syrian Lahoud, who is set to stand down on Nov. 24, to defy his term limits and stay in power for an extra three years. Damascus’ overwhelming political influence in Lebanon, where it has up to 20,000 troops, means it can also likely count on the two-thirds of the 128 lawmakers needed for passage.

But the amendment has raised deep concern in Washington, which slapped sanctions on Syria in June. “At this point we are discussing what elements a possible resolution might contain,” US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

He stressed Lebanon’s presidential election should be conducted under the current constitution, which prohibits the president from seeking a second term. Describing Syria’s actions as “an affront” to Lebanon’s political independence, Boucher said the process of getting the UN vote was fairly advanced and that enough language had been agreed upon for a rough draft. Another senior US State Department official said Washington hoped to table the resolution in the coming days.

Arab League chief Amr Moussa said after talks with Lahoud in Beirut yesterday that the Security Council would meet today to discuss Syria’s influence on Lebanon, and could vote on a resolution the same day. Moussa voiced hope the Arab group at the United Nations would take a position “against interference in the internal affairs of member states,” referring to the United States.

The mere discussion of a draft amendment brought an immediate protest from Lebanese Foreign Minister Jean Obeid, who told UN chief Kofi Annan in a letter that it would constitute interference in the country’s affairs.

An Arab diplomat in Beirut said Syria had been pushing for a quick decision by MPs to present a fait accompli before any UN action. The battle over Lahoud is just the latest round in a diplomatic tussle between Washington and Damascus.

The administration of US President George W. Bush slapped sanctions on Damascus in June over charges it was supporting terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction. It has also repeatedly called on Syria to withdraw the troops it has stationed in Lebanon since it intervened in the civil war in 1976. Washington is also unhappy with Lahoud for exactly the reasons that Damascus sees him as an ally.

Besides his acceptance of Syria’s military presence, he takes no steps to disarm the Hezbollah resistance movement, which holds sway in southern Lebanon and which Washington considers a terrorist group.

But despite the fact that the European Union has also come out against another term for Lahoud, the senior US official said it was unlikely the draft UN resolution would contain provisions that could lead to UN sanctions.

A large number of Lebanese religious and political figures are also opposed to Lahoud standing for re-election, with Christian and Muslim leaders showing rare unity against Syria’s steamroller tactics. Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a rival of Lahoud, fell into line after being summoned to Damascus by Syrian President Bashar Assad.

But Lebanon’s powerful Maronite church yesterday renewed its criticism of Syria over affair over Lahoud who, ironically, is one of its members.

“Amendments are being forced on constitutional institutions and ministers and MPs are being forced to take positions against their convictions,” the church’s bishops said after meeting under patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. In a nod to the opposition, Lahoud would stay in power for only an extra three years, instead of another full six-year term.