Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir met with the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun on the night of the prelate's arrival to Lebanon. Sfeir had said earlier in the day that he had to meet with the concerned political parties before taking any initiatives or decisions in the presidential issue.Speaking at the Rafik Hariri International airport upon his arrival from a 23-day trip to the Italian capital, where he participated in a synod presided by Pope Benedict XVI, Sfeir said: "The presidential file does not concern me alone but concerns all the Lebanese and in any case we will see what to do about this file once we meet with all the concerned parties." Following the release of UN chief Detlev Mehlis' report into the murder of former premier Rafik Hariri, calls have intensified for President Emile Lahoud's resignation. Lahoud has been adamant he will remain in his post until the end of his term.
| My gut tells me he's going to hang on to the bitter end, and that there will be a bitter end. |