BEIRUT - Lebanon's Maronite bishops warned on Wednesday that a Syrian-tailored election law adopted for polls starting this month would disrupt the country's fragile Christian-Muslim coexistence.

The law "violates... co-existence between Christians and Muslims and does not allow for fair elections", said a seven-point statement issued after a meeting called by Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir.

"We call on all the Lebanese officials to act and prevent the harmful repercussions of this law," it said.

The Lebanese government, under pressure from the international community, said elections for a 128-seat parliament will take place on four consecutive Sundays starting May 29.

The polls will be based on a 2000 law which breaks Lebanon into large constitencies, seen as unfavourable to Lebanon's large Christian minority which is demanding smaller voting areas.

"Based on this formula, only 15 Christian deputies will be elected by Christian voters while 49 others will be chosed by mainly Muslim voters.

"This means that Muslims will choose Christian deputies as was the case under when Lebanon was under (Syrian) tutelage," the statement said.

Syria completed the withdrawal of its troops and intelligence services from Lebanon on April 26, ending 29 years of military and political domination of its smaller neighbour.

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