By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- The Security Council September 2 adopted a resolution drafted by the United States and France that requires Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon and stop interfering in the country's November elections.

"It is wrong for Syria to continue to maintain its forces in Lebanon in flat contravention of the spirit and clear intent of the Taif Accord, and it would be very wrong of Syria to continue to interfere in the presidential electoral process in Lebanon," U.S. Ambassador John Danforth said after the vote.

The United States and France, along with resolution co-sponsors Germany and the United Kingdom, pressed the council to move quickly after what they considered Syria's use of its military might to interfere in Lebanon's upcoming presidential elections. The cabinet of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud has approved a constitutional amendment that would extend the president's term for three years. Lebanon's parliament is set to vote on amending the country's constitution on September 3.

According to Lebanon's constitution, Lahoud must be replaced by November 24 when his non-renewable six-year term expires.

The resolution, which does not mention Syria by name, passed by a vote of 9 to 0 with abstentions by Algeria, Brazil, China, Pakistan, Philippines, and Russia.

"The Government of Syria has imposed its political will on Lebanon, and has compelled the Cabinet and Lebanese National Assembly to amend its constitution and abort the electoral process by extending the term of the current president by three years," Danforth said.

"We have called on the Security Council to carry out its responsibility of supporting the full independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Lebanon, free after so many years from all foreign forces, and to support the Lebanese people in their ability to make their own national decisions, free at long last from outside coercion and dictate," the ambassador said.

"France believes that by acting firmly today, the Security Council is showing its confidence in Lebanon's future," said Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere of France. "This future must be marked by the restoration of its sovereignty and not by the intensification of outside interference."

Syria currently has an estimated 17,000 troops in Lebanon. It has maintained troops in the country since the 1989 signing of the Taif Accords, which ended the Lebanese civil war. Syria is the only foreign country with troops currently stationed in Lebanon.

Danforth has said that "the Lebanese Parliament and the Lebanese Cabinet should express the will of the Lebanese people through a free and fair presidential electoral process."

"What the Lebanese people and we have witnessed over the past week, in terms of Syrian actions, is a crude mockery of this principle. It is clear that Lebanese parliamentarians have been pressured and even threatened by Syria and its agents to make them comply," the ambassador said.

Before the vote, Lebanese Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Issa asked for the resolution to be withdrawn.