BEIRUT, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) — Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Wednesday rejected demands by the country’s anti-Syrian groups to resign, vowing to hold the post until the end of his tenure. "He is committed to his oath until the last day of his constitutional tenure," Lahoud’s office said in a statement.

    In Tuesday’s mass protest in central Beirut marking the first anniversary of former premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination, anti-Syrian groups launched scathing attacks on Lahoud and called for his ousting. Lahoud’s tenure was controversially extended for three years under a Syrian-inspired amendment to the constitution in September 2004. Most Lebanese leaders, including Rafik Hariri, opposed the extension then. According to the Lebanese constitution, the president can not be removed from his post unless he is proven to be under the control of another nation. Lahoud has repeatedly declared that he would see out his tenure. Enditem