Gemayel, who lost Sunday's elections with a narrow margin, said 57% of Maronite voters supported him, compared with 47% in favor of Camille Khoury, who won the race for Gen. Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement.

Results of the vote, Gemayel noted, "show how deep Syria's influence is in the Metn. This worries us, especially that we observed the extent of its influence on its allies."

"That is why, the battle for sovereignty and independence is not over yet. Our mission is to expose how serious is the influence of Syria's intelligence in Lebanon," Gemayel added.

He noted that Aoun's candidate won 80% of Armenian voters, 97% of Shiite voters and 50% of Sunni voters. "These figures prove that the Muslims supported Aoun and backed his candidate," Gemayel added.

He said the forthcoming president should "naturally be (chosen) from the March 14 ranks."

He warned against the election of a president with "dual loyalty, loyal to Lebanon and loyal to Syria."

Gemayel also rejected the formation of an interim cabinet if parliament fails to elect a new head of state before President Emile Lahoud's extended term expires on Nov. 22.

Picture: Former Lebanese president and candidate Amin Gemayel (C) shows a white rose flower dedicated to his assassinated son Pierre after casting his vote for parliamentary by-elections in Bikfaya. Gemayel lost the elections but claims that he is the true representatives of the Christians of Lebanon. Aoun used to claim that he represents over 70 % of the Christians.

Sources: Naharnet