"Iran surely had a positive and constructive role in helping Lebanese to achieve an accord and we thanked this country for this positive role," Aoun told.

Aoun (pictured ) , a key ally of the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led opposition made the remarks in an interview with the Mehr News Agency reporter in Beirut concurrent with the election of Michel Suleiman as Lebanon's president last week.

Aoun said, "I have a message of friendship and brotherhood for Iranians and I see them as Lebanon lovers."

Under Arab League auspices, rival Lebanese leaders clinched a deal in the Qatari capital Doha to end the political feud between government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Under the Doha agreement, which defused a crisis that had caused the worst civil strife since Lebanon's 1975-1990 war, Lebanon's parliament on Sunday elected army chief Michel Suleiman as new president.

Aoun, who also heads the Change and Reform Bloc, expressed hope that the election of Michel Suleiman would help end the crisis and open a "new era in Lebanon".

He called on all "foreign friends and parties" to respect Lebanon's "independence and sovereignty" and avoid blocking efforts to resolve the problems.

Aoun also advised Lebanese to make decisions "independently and in line with their national interests".

Asked about a new Middle East proposed by the U.S., he said, "We are always in the new Middle East, but not the one (U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza) Rice talks about."

Ever since Aoun signed allied himself with Hezbollah he has been critical of US policies in Lebanon. During his 15 years of exile in Paris Aoun was a leading critic of Hezbollah, Syria and Iran.