He added that the opposition's demands have to be in harmony with General Suleiman's "compromising nature", he added warning that "There is a political and constitutional tension and that the crisis could entail security, social and economic hazards." MP Oun wondered the "what meaning a dialogue has since matters came to a deadlock over the blocking third (of government seats) demanded by the opposition in case a new president is elected.

"The crisis has been forwarded to 2008, so it could remain open for a long indefinite period," he said.

On Friday, Speaker Nabih Berri postponed to January 12 the Parliament session that was due today for electing a successor to former president Emile Lahoud whose term came to an end on November 23. the country has been suffering a presidential vacuum ever since.

The opposition has agreed "in form" on the election of General Suleiman as a new president, MP Mohammad Al-Amin Eitani, Future Movement, said in a statement.

He added that the opposition did not see Suleiman's potential "inadequate" to act as the "guaranteeing third" and so they want the blocking third "as they are afraid of the "Ministers objectivity." "The Opposition wants a president from among their ranks or one with no powers, controlled by a roadmap and a Parliamentary blocking third," Eitani said.

He noted that the majority had taken all the measures likely to open the way for General Suleiman to the Presidential Palace either through amending the constitution or an extraordinary Parliamentary session.

For his part, Prime Minister's advisor Mohammad Shatah ruled out the eruption of a civil war in the country. "Had the war potential existed, it would have broken out a year ago," Shatah told Al-Mustaqbal news channel. But this did not happen thanks to "awareness of the Lebanese people." "The opposition will not allow the government to proceed with the same method, that is manipulating all the executive powers and the presidency," MP Kamil Khoury, from the opposition camp. He warned of an opposition reaction that will not wait for long.

"Lebanon is at crossroads facing a huge crisis of its fate," Khouri, from the Change and Reform Alliance, said in a news statement. He underlined the necessity of concluding a settlement satisfactory to all parties.

This is an "interim government" that does not have the right to make sovereign decisions, Khouri said adding that the government was "practicing a provocative policy and wants to monopolize power, according to outsider dictations that are part of a regional plan that starts in Lebanon." The opposition would not allow the ruling majority to take the country wherever they like to, Hezbollah political official, Sheikh Hassan Izz-Eddin said in a statement adding that the majority's latest steps were insinuated by the US and president George Bush personally. -Kuna