The resolution declared "support for a free and fair electoral process in Lebanon's upcoming presidential election, conducted according to Lebanese constitutional rules devised without foreign interference or influence".

The US and French-backed resolution is said to be aimed at Syria which has troops in Lebanon and strongly backs President Emile Lahoud.

Syria has been pushing for an extension of Mr Lahoud's mandate when his six-year term ends in November.

The Beirut parliament is due to vote on Friday on a plan to change the constitution which would allow Mr Lahoud a second term.

Should Emile Lahoud be allowed to serve a second term as president of Lebanon? Should Syria withdraw, end its military presence and political influence in the country? Tell us what you think.

This debate is now closed. Thank you for your comments.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we received:

What is important in here is what the Lebanese's want, not what the Arab world think is the best for them. Just like when we opposed the war in Iraq and occupation of the U.S forces, we need to tell Syria they are not any different. Any occupation is wrong and needs to be dealt with according. Syrian troops should leave to set an example for other nations that any sort of occupation is wrong.
Ahmad, Berkeley, CA, USA

If troops are required for any internal security they should only be UN controlled forces George Adam, Singapore

All troops in the middle east should return to their own countries, including the Israelis and the Americans. Then we might be able to start working towards peace and development in that area, if troops are required for any internal security they should only be UN controlled forces.
George Adam, Singapore

Syria is a blood thirsty occupier of its smaller neighbour. Those who want the Syrians to remain in Lebanon can go and live in Syria or maybe Iran if they wish.
Walid, Houston, USA

I think Syrian troops should leave Lebanon as soon as possible. This would allow the Lebanese people to assess their national strength as against the state of Israel. History is very silent, and yet it can also be loud and clear. The withdrawal of USA troops in South Vietnam had resulted to the reunification of that country. Let us also include South Korea in our discussions. While it remains important that the Syrians pull out their soldiers from Lebanon, it would be rather helpful for the USA to act same in South Korea. When reality sets in, there would be internal compromises, and this would bring true and lasting peace among the conflicting parties. I wish to conclude then that, if Syria uses Lebanon as buffer zone while influencing terrorist activities against Israel, Israel's response irrespective of intensity would hardly receive any international condemnation.
Binamin K, Saskatchewan, Canada

A constitution should not be able to be breached as if it were simply just another law. Emily Duran, Beirut, Lebanon

I have been living in Beirut for the summer studying abroad at the American University. Many people are scared to speak out against the Syrian occupation even in the most intimate settings. I, for one, will raise my voice against the extension of the President's term. A constitution should not be able to be breached as if it were simply just another law. Keeping Lahoud in power will only forestall the process of self-sufficiency which the Lebanese government and people both badly need.
Emily Duran, Beirut, Lebanon

Syria's presence in Lebanon is a drain on an already struggling economy. This is economic and political terrorism. Our people suffer under a corrupt regime, that invades our work force, imports drugs for profit, and buys our political figures. They are a burden in Lebanon and in the region.
George Abi-Habib, Roumieh, Lebanon

Legislation to allow Lahoud to stay in office is wrong and will deeply hurt Lebanon's interests. Syrian troops are not the issue since they do very little to effect the day to day life of the average Lebanese citizen. Syria needs to focus on developing a healthy alliance with Lebanon since its evident that both countries need each other.
Bassil, Montreal, Canada

Syria must be given a profound thanks and appreciation for ending the long running civil war in Lebanon. Hussein Sherif, Newark, NJ, USA

I think Syria must be given a profound thanks and appreciation for ending the long running civil war in Lebanon. When Lebanese were murdered and Palestinian refugees massacred by Israeli invading forces, there were no United Nations resolutions backed by France and the United States for the Jewish state action in 1982. If Syrian troops pulled out of Lebanon, equally so, French troops must leave Ivory Coast, Gabon, Central African Republic and likewise the United States, should withdraw its occupying forces from Iraq, Kuwait and other countries around the world.
Hussein Sherif, Newark, NJ, U. S. A.

Syria is a dictatorship that does not represent the will of its own people. Syria harbours terrorists and has occupied Lebanon for 30 years. Today, Lebanon is the only founding member of the UN that is under occupation. During this time, Syria has taken away freedom of speech, sent thousands of our citizens to torture chambers and controlled our mock elections through pressures and threats from their military and 'intelligence' services. It is time for the world community to wake up to the situation. Removing the Syrians from Lebanon will make the world safer from Bashar's dictatorial/terrorist regime. Peace and freedom should prevail. Long live the free world and a once again free Lebanon.
Anonymous, Lebanese Diaspora (United States of America)

Lebanon would not exist without Syria. Does anyone honestly believe that the Lebanese are able to manage their own affairs? Besides, the phalangists and other right-wing Christian extremists would love nothing more than to finish what they started in Sabra and Chatila back in 1982. Syria has a genuine interest in looking after the well-being of the Palestinians there until a final settlement can be reached. I wouldn't take the opposition in Beirut too seriously. They depend on Syria too and know the repercussions of a withdrawal.
Michel (Lebanese ex-pat in England)

As an expatriated Lebanese, I ask you back why should they stay? In the name of what strategy or regional crisis should anyone stay in our country? Mr. Emile Lahoud by accepting this new mandate has turned himself into an autocratic dictator. He must have wished this, since all Arab leaders around him have been serving for years if not for life. Why shouldn't he?
Michelle Moarbes, Cairo, Egypt

Syria must withdraw from occupied Lebanon as Israel has already done 4 years ago.
Jamil Baroody, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

I can see the reticence of the Syrians from leaving when the threats from Israel remain so very real. M, London UK

The Lebanon has a right to establish itself as a prosperous and well governed country once more without foreign influence. However, I can see the reticence of the Syrians from leaving when the threats from Israel remain so very real. If the US government wants to influence the Lebanon it will have to provide assurances of aid and that Israel will no longer provide a threat to the country as it rebuilds its own armed forces
M, London UK

Changing the constitution to let Lahoud serve another term is not the solution to our problems. Syria must mind its own business and withdraw from Lebanon ASAP.
Danny, Beirut, Lebanon

As Article 49 of the Lebanese constitution puts forward, the Lebanese president should not serve a second term because it would be highly undemocratic as well as a breach of the constitution. As for the end of the Syrian presence in Lebanon, it is about time the Lebanese took responsibility for governing their own affairs without external influence whether from the Syrians or otherwise. The UN Security Council makes this clear through the resolutions passed concerning Lebanon, namely 520 and 1559.
Youssef Naddaf, London, UK

As a Syrian citizen, I see the collaboration between Syria and Lebanon as a smart card to play in the complex political battle in the region. However, it should be exercised with the full consent of the Lebanese people, and not through Syrian dictatorship. The Syrian regime has succeeded in sending the country back to the dark ages, but Lebanon should not be forced to participate.
Anonymous, USA

It is because of this intervention that Lebanon still exists as a country Nouaf Ajubi, Cura�ao, Netherlands Antilles

I am no fan of the Syrian dictatorship, but let us be rational and objective. Syria intervened in a bloody civil war, where everybody (especially foreign countries like Israel) was involved. It is because of this intervention that Lebanon still exists as a country. Syria took no sides in this civil war, but succeeded in stopping the fighting, while standing up to Israel. Where was the UN when Israel occupied 10% of Lebanon in 1982?
Nouaf Ajubi, Cura�ao, Netherlands Antilles

There should not be any foreign troop in any country. What is the meaning of independence and sovereignty when you have somebody else to force and dictate around? Many of the world crisis have been the results of outside intervention, whether the powerful countries accept this fact or not.
Virendra Pratap Singh, London, UK

The Syrians have been illegally occupying Lebanon since 1976 and, in recent years, plying the Hezbollah militia with weapons. It's time for Syria to end the occupation and Hezbollah to become a purely political force. The Israeli occupation is over - now it's time for the Syrians to leave as well.
David Ward, London, UK

It's about time that the Syrians took their hands out of Lebanon and stopped using the country as a bargain in their negotiations with the west and Israel. The Lebanese people should be given a chance to start the internal reconciliation process and exercise their freedom and liberty.
Samer, Toronto, Canada

Syria pushed actively for the breakdown of the state of Lebanon in 1975. Weapons and training were provided by Syria. Then, Syrian troops entered to the country and forbade any party from prevailing on the others. Syria did not end the war, it only stopped fighting and maintained instability in order to remain the arbitrator between the Lebanese. When the international community recognised a major role for Syria in Lebanon in 1990, it was under the condition of a gradual Syrian withdrawal starting in 1992. Syria did not respect this condition and is manipulating the political scene in Lebanon in order to isolate those Lebanese politicians who might ask for a Syrian withdrawal.
Chadi, Lebanon

Syria should withdraw both politically and militarily from Lebanon Aman, Spain

Lebanon will have no meaning for existing if it is not a democracy that respects the will of its people. As a Lebanese Muslim women I strongly oppose the amendment of the constitution (a third time!) to allow Lahoud to serve a second term. He already had his chance and all he did was prove his loyalty to Syria instead of to his own people. Syria should withdraw both politically and militarily from Lebanon. All Lebanese, from all political backgrounds would like to see Lebanon a free, democratic and modern state.
Aman, Spain

Syria regards Lebanon as a colony and an expendable surrogate to fight its war against Israel. Lebanon is on the front line to attack northern Israel and to infiltrate terrorists into Gaza and the West Bank. Therefore, Syria will not leave Lebanon no matter what the Security Council says. Everyone knows neither France nor Russia will back the threat and use of force to insure the mandate is carried out so it is just empty words.
Mark, USA

This is just another example of interference in the affairs of small sovereign nations by larger states.
Harry, Thanet, UK

This is an internal matter for Lebanon and its people. The UN has no business in dictating the democracy of a sovereign nation. Clearly, this is a push to weaken Lebanon militarily so that its stronger neighbour to the south is better able to bully it.
Yusuf, Geneva, Switzerland

The UN deciding on something is a miracle but how are they going to enforce this? Sanctions? Darfur has proved the UN for what it now is, powerless, particularly when it comes to the Middle East.
Chris, Bradford, UK

Syria is an occupying force. The majority of Lebanese politicians and civilians do not want them there. Lahoud is more in touch with Damascus than with his own people - obviously the case because Syria is calling for an extension for his term, currently impossible without changes in the Lebanese Constitution. I guess the question I am a little confused about - why is the UN doing this now? What's the background to this?
Roger Morgan Freedlan, Whitwick, England

As the whole Arab world was complaining about Western interference in Iraqi affairs two years ago, I feel it is high time they lived up to the standards that they set us and respect other countries' sovereignties.
Graeme Phillips, Midsomer Norton, UK