"If we fail at the (upcoming) elections, Rustom Ghazali will return and govern Lebanon from Damascus' countryside," Jumblatt told reporters following his meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Monday.

"if we succeed, we can continue quietly with the (national) dialogue to gradually absorb Hezbollah's arms," he said. "This is my message today."

"Circumstances did not allow me to meet Patriarch Sfeir, following the events of May 7, circumstances improved, we remained in touch, we made many political deals and alliances with the Patriarch and succeeded," he explained.

"The Syrians entered Lebanon by (spilling) Kamal Jumblatt's blood and exited by (spilling) Rafik Hariri's blood," Jumblatt said.

"No one can accuse me of being 'charged up' following my trip to America because I understood the U.S. message well in 2006, at that time (U.S. Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice told me that the Syrian regime behavior must change. Today they ( Bush administration) are about to leave; the new administration wants a return to engagement. Okay. However, I am warning and I have the right to warn, the Syrians are specialists in wasting time in talks for the sake of talks, and in dialogue for dialogue's sake. We at the Cedar Revolution have to be keen that activity on the Syrian-Israeli track is not at the expense of Lebanon."

In an earlier statement to the daily as-Safir on Monday, Jumblatt disclosed that he might travel again to the United States prior to the 2009 parliamentary elections, to meet with key figures of the Obama administration.

He added that while in Washington he expressed thanks to the Bush administration," for their support in helping establish the international tribunal, the withdrawal of Syrian troops out of Lebanon, for issuing UNSCR 1701, Paris 3 and for supporting the Lebanese armed forces."

Jumblatt reiterated his position of continuing to work for internal calm in the country," under the umbrella of the Doha agreement a framework we all adopted for civilized dialogue in the country. This(process) will continue." He added

Photo: MP walid Jumblatt ( L) with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in a file photo

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