Syrian authorities have detained a prominent writer and government opponent in a continuing crackdown on dissidents. The writer, Michel Kilo, had been involved in drawing up a petition calling for a halt to his country’s interference in Lebanon, from where it withdrew its troops last year after a nearly 30-year presence.

The petition appeared on the eve of the introduction last Friday by the US, France and Britain of a draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council calling on Syria to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty. The draft resolution urges Damascus among other things to demarcate the border between the two countries and to exchange ambassadors.