Speaking to the French magazine Le Point, the head of the Christian Maronite Church said that Lahoud, a former army commander, is not expected to give in to the pressure exerted on him to resign.

"He is a military man, he does not have the disposition to bend. Are the Syrians backing him? Anyway ...Lahoud has linked his fate to them," the patriarch said in the interview that was published Tuesday in Lebanon's French daily L'Orient Le Jour.

Sfeir, who in recent months has joined the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority in its call for Lahoud to resign, said the pro-Syrian president is not fit to rule over the country anymore as he is increasingly isolated.

"The president does not have the means to fulfill his functions anymore. He has lost his prestige as he is boycotted from outside and inside (Lebanon)," said Sfeir.

Many of Lebanon's top rival leaders, who are currently discussing Lahoud's fate at national dialogue talks, have said that it is up to the patriarch to choose the next head of state, who according to the country's sectarian-based system should be a Maronite.

However, Sfeir has been reluctant to do so, since in the past, his favorite candidates for the presidency were not selected.

"When I will make my choice all the Maronites will be unhappy except for one. I have said what the required qualities are: a person who is qualified, independent, honest and accepted by everyone," Sfeir said.

Asked if he believes the next president should not come from a military background, the patriarch said: "It is said that he should not come from the military. But Gen. Aoun told me that he has not been a military man for over 20 years. It is up to the Lebanese to choose for themselves."

Gen. Michel Aoun was army commander when he was appointed to head a transitional government in 1988. A few months later, he waged a "War of Liberation" against Syria and ended up in exile in France where he spent 15 years. He is now back in Lebanon and has declared his candidacy to the presidency.

Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement was a key member of the anti-Syrian March 14 alliance that staged mass protests against Damascus after the Feb. 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. But the group broke with the coalition and has recently signed a cooperation agreement with the pro-Syrian Hezbollah faction.

Sfeir said the agreement was a positive move as "the Christians cannot be a separate group. They should cooperate with all the Lebanese."

The Patriarch expressed concern about Lebanon's current political crisis and the possibility of an outbreak of violence considering that there are armed groups in the country and weapons are being smuggled across the border with Syria.

"Nobody really wants war. The Arab countries are looking for a peaceful solution and so is the United States," he added.

Top political leaders at national dialogue talks have been discussing the presidential issue. However, the participants have reached a deadlock with regards to President Emile Lahoud's fate. While the anti-Syrian opposition wants to remove the head of state from power, allies of Damascus want him to stay.

Negotiations were suspended Monday until April 28 which was set as the deadline for discussing the presidency.

The president has been completely isolated. Most of the dignitaries that have visited Lebanon recently have completely ignored him.

Top picture: Cardinal Sfeir
Bottom picture: President Lahoud (L) and president Assad (R) during their meeting in Khartoum

Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan