Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel warned on Wednesday over the return to the era of hegemony under the reign of Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s government.

Describing the current political situation as “delicate,” Gemayel said following talks with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki that “there are fears over the return … of hegemony and repression.”

The March 14 general-secretariat on Wednesday “strongly condemned” four caretaker ministers for turning down requests from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon prosecutor to provide information and documents, saying this was tantamount to non-cooperation with the STL.

If Ministers Ghazi Aridi, Jebran Bassil, Ziad Baroud and Charbel Nahhas remain adamant in not cooperating with Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare, they and their party backers would have to confront the Lebanese public which is calling for holding accountable ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassins, said the general-secretariat following its weekly meeting.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea lamented on Monday that the situation in Lebanon wouldn’t improve as long as there isn’t a single state.

“Things couldn’t straighten up in a country where there is no single state,” Geagea said in reference to Hizbullah which the March 14 forces accuse of forming a state within the Lebanese state.

The oldest member of the Maronite bishops synod is expected to call for a conclave to elect a new patriarch within 15 days after Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Saturday.

An Nahar daily said Sunday that the synod would be held in Bkirki and could start with a three-day retreat and then followed by election sessions for 15 days.

Pope Benedict XVI accepted Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir’s resignation, reported L’Obsservatore Romano newspaper on Saturday.

The Pope said in a letter to Sfeir: “I accept your free decision that reflects your humility.”

Pope Benedict XVI held talks with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at the Vatican on Friday, a day after meeting with President Michel Suleiman.

The pope and Sfeir discussed the political situation in Lebanon and the region and the condition of Christians in the Middle East.

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Wednesday denied media reports that he has submitted his resignation to the Holy See for "political reasons."

In an interview with OTV in the Vatican on the sidelines of a ceremony to unveil the statue of Saint Maroun, Sfeir said: "They're free to say what they want, but the real reason is that I have reached the age of 90."

President Michel Suleiman travels to Rome on Tuesday to participate in a ceremony that would unveil the St. Maroun Statue at the Vatican, further delaying the formation of the government.

The ceremony will take place at the St. Peter’s square on Wednesday and will be attended by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, Lebanese expatriates and representatives of political parties.

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Sunday wished Premier-designate Najib Miqati success in forming the government and stressed support for the liberation of land within Lebanon’s natural boundaries.

“We wish him (Miqati) success and congratulate anyone who has been tasked with forming the new cabinet,” Sfeir said at Rafik Hariri international airport before heading to Rome to participate in the unveiling of the statue of Saint Maroun in Saint Peter’s square.

Expert church circles revealed that the closed-door scheduled between Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and Pope Benedict XVI in Rome will represent a suitable opportunity to discuss the former’s resignation.

They told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that the resignation is expected to be finalized in early March.