Aoun made the remark in an interview screened Saturday evening by the NBN television network, an outlet owned by Speaker Berri , and supports the Hezbollah-led opposition.

In answering a question as to whether early presidential elections to choose a successor to President Emile Lahoud before his extended term expires next Nov. 22 was possible, Aoun said:

"I don't think so. And I believe that the presidential elections would not be held on schedule. Does the stealing of Parliamentary seats set the stage for them to steal the presidency?"

"Let them know that the (presidential) elections will only be held in line with an understanding that returns what has been stolen to its owners," Aoun added.

Aoun accuses the March 14 Parliamentary majority of Fraud in the 2005 general elections.

Aoun is allied with the March 8 coalition that groups Hezbollah and other pro-Syrian factions which have been trying in vain to topple Premier Fouad Siniora 's majority government. Hezbollah and the pro- Syrian allies have promised to support Aoun for president , but since they are the minority in the parliament, Aoun does not stand a chance to win the presidency. The March 14 alliance despises Aoun greatly and blames him for the current crises, since he gave the Christian political cover to Hezbollah to destabilize the country. Aoun is also viewed as unstable , since he changed his political direction 180 degrees ever since he returned from exile, as a result of which he lost a lot of support amongst the Christian community.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah Warned Sunday that any attempt by the majority to convene a parliamentary session outside the house compound would be a "leap into the unknown and an escalation leading to non-benign repercussions."

The threat was made by Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan at a news conference in the Beqaa valley town of Baalbek.

Hajj Hassan was responding to reports that legislators representing the March 14 Parliamentary majority might convene a session of the house at an undisclosed venue to deliberate and ratify a bill creating the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes.

House Speaker Nabih Berri also heads the AMAL movement which is part of the Hezbollah-led opposition that has been trying since Dec. 1 to topple the Saniora government which had prepared and endorsed the international tribunal bill.

The opposition wants amendments to the bill, details of which have not been officially disclosed. And Berri aides at Parliament have refused to accept text of the bill as referred by the Saniora government, claiming the cabinet is "illegitimate" because six opposition ministers have resigned.

The international community and the Arab League, however, term the Saniora cabinet "the legitimate" government of Lebanon.

Hajj Hassan said any meeting convened by the ruling majority outside the house headquarters is a mere political meeting by a parliamentary bloc that bears no legal or constitutional significance."

Hajj Hassan's statement followed mounting differences between the pro-Syrian opposition and the parliamentary majority over the international tribunal after the Arab summit held at the Saudi Capital of Riyadh last week.

The summit declared support for the tribunal.

Picture: Michel Aoun ( R) and Lebanon's pro- Syrian president Emile Lahoud. Lahoud's term was illegally extended for 3 more years under pressure by Syria in October 2004.

Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan