UNITED NATIONS – The Security Council is prepared to add to the diplomatic pressure on Syria, which according to Secretary-General Annan has not withdrawn its forces from neighboring Lebanon or stopped meddling in its internal affairs.

Diplomats still hoped to reach a consensus among all 15 council members on a statement that would say that requirements in its September 2 resolution “have not been met” and would establish a reporting mechanism to follow future implementation.

The proposal, sponsored by America and France, is expected to be adopted today, either as a consensus-based statement or as a resolution affirmed by the majority.

French and American diplomats said yesterday that they still hoped to convince Algeria, which represents the Arab bloc on the council, to join with the rest on a statement, which would send the message that the council is united.

Algerian Ambassador Abdallah Baali asked for time to consult his capital, diplomats present at the session said. It was not clear yesterday whether Syria would insist that the Arab bloc remain united, forcing Algeria to create a division in the council on a vote that would enact the resolution anyway.

One French diplomat who requested to not be named told The New York Sun that if a vote is forced, at least 11 members of the council would support the resolution, which is based by and large on Secretary-General Annan’s report last month.

Pakistan, China, and Russia are expected to join Algeria as the minority on such a vote, but no one expects either Beijing or Moscow to use their veto power.

Over the weekend, America and France made several changes to their original proposal, taking Syria’s name out of the text and agreeing to call on Mr. Annan to make future reports every six months, as opposed to every three months as they originally proposed.

Syrian Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad avoided public comments yesterday. Damascus is said to be concerned about the continuing threat of periodic U.N. reports saying it continues to occupy Lebanon, as Mr. Annan did in his last report.

“What’s important for the French, for us, and for many around the table,” an American official told the Sun, “is that reports come back to the council to maintain the spotlight, the pressure, to keep the focus on Lebanon and Syria.”

France has a special interest in Syria and Lebanon, its former colonies, where it still carries a great deal of influence. America hopes that added diplomatic demands for compliance would lead to Syrian cooperation on terrorism and securing Iraq’s borders.