The speech has also sent the Lebanese into concern over their future, he said, wondering over a possible meeting involving different Lebanese factions for calm and objective dialogue away from accusation and suspicion.

Hezbollah leader, in remarks marking the "Day of Martyrs" in a ceremony in southern Beirut on Sunday, said Lahoud "should not allow a group of thieves and killers to follow the American project in Lebanon." "We will follow with patience these sensitive days, to have a president of the republic whom the Lebanese, rather than the Americans, want," he added.

The Lebanese information minister considered that Nasrallah's speech had killed all Arab and international efforts aiming to resolve the inter-Lebanese cul-de-sac.

He wondered that such remarks would be a message directed to what is beyond Lebanon, which could be a spot for the international conflict over the Lebanese Iranian dossier.

Lebanon should not pay the price for a foreign conflict with which it has nothing to do, he demanded.

Al-Aridi also lashed out at Nasrallah's call on incumbent Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to take steps to salvage the country should the political forces fail to agree on a presidential candidate on the crucial November 21 parliamentary session.

The Lebanese president is in no position to take any step since his term of office will elapse on November 24th, he said. -Kuna