"It is preferable that a president comes who can gather around him the largest number of MPs, even if only half plus one of MPs actually vote for him," the minister said.

"Which is better to have," he asked, "a president elected by a large majority who will end up being isolated, or a president elected by a small majority who will end up strong and acceptable to all?"

"We cannot accept a president that the Maronite patriarch does not approve of," Harb said, adding that those candidates who do not meet the requirements set by the patriarch should not be considered for the job.

"Whoever we can all agree on from a list drawn up by the patriarch will be the next president," Harb said, warning that no president should be considered from outside this list.

He added that Berri's initiative is a opportunity the Lebanese must not miss because the alternative would be confrontation between the people.

Harb said the initiative needs more work in order to find a formula that will allow it to be implemented.

"This is what I sought to do and thus kept the initiative alive," Harb added.

Justice Minister and presidential hopeful Charles Rizk, in comments carried by several media outlets, said on Wednesday that he does not want to be a candidate but a president, adding that a president who can get two-thirds of the vote will have a strong start, while a candidate who cannot get two-thirds of the vote will have a weak start.

Aoun said that other alternatives are readily available in the event that Berri's initiative fails, adding, however, that a slide into civil war is not inevitable, arguing that no one would be willing to "die for the sake of the government."

He said all it takes "is one yell in their faces and it's all over," adding that this time the March 14 Forces will not find anyone to protect them.

Aoun also accused the pro-government camp of "stealing" the government. "Let them give us the government and take the presidency ... At least we will split the rip-off share in half," he said.

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir will not be returning to Lebanon on Thursday; instead he is expected to meet with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican Thursday afternoon.

Presidential candidate MP Boutros Harb on Wednesday stressed the important role the Vatican has to play in ensuring the future of Christians in the Middle East, adding that the Vatican is thus a religious authority concerned with the fate of Christians in Lebanon.

A spokesperson for Hariri told The Daily Star on Wednesday that no date has been set for the March 14 alliance to meet to announce their unified stance Berri's proposal, saying only that the majority was still discussing the issue.

March 14 sources told An-Nahar newspaper Tuesday that Berri's proposal has to be considered a starting point for dialogue rather than gospel truth that must not be amended. Sources close to Berri told the CNA Wednesday that the speaker is waiting for a reply on his initiative from the majority before his television interview Thursday evening on the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation.

Aoun warned members on the March 14 Forces Tuesday against rejecting Berri's latest initiative. In comments made to As-Safir newspaper, Aoun said he believed Hariri was "unable to decide on matters within the ranks of the majority ... because he does not possess authority over the others."

Change and Reform Bloc MP Nabil Nicholas, who also took part in the meeting Wednesday, said the majority's delay in making a clear response to Berri's initiative is due to their waiting for a "green light" from abroad. Speaking in a radio interview, Nicholas said, "Lebanon has always paid the price of war and peace in the region due to the disagreements among the Lebanese."

Nicholas also criticized Hariri's mediation efforts in Pakistan while his own country seethes. He said Change and Reform Bloc leader MP Michel Aoun is a candidate for stability in Lebanon and the region.

"If the Americans desire stability in the region, it is imperative that Aoun should be president," Nicholas said.

Hariri also met Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani on Wednesday. Sources close to Hariri said that he would hold talks Thursday with Sudanese presidential envoy Mohammad Othman Ismail and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who arrives in Beirut on Thursday.

Parliamentary sources told the Central News Agency the opposition meeting covered all possible scenarios and a plan being drawn up by the opposition that covers the two most likely scenarios that could emerge: either agreement is reached between opposing sides and a president is elected, or agreement is not reached and confrontation ensues.

"We are still observing and following developments and not yet defining specific actions. We are still very optimistic that the power of reason will return to the ruling majority or at least some pangs of conscience," said opposition MP Abbas Hashem, who took part in the meeting. Hashem told the CNA that discussions did not focus on the "negative options" only the important choices.

"Our choices are well known and focus on the need for partnership and consensus, while choice is monopolizing power and isolating and marginalizing others," Hashem said. MPs will meet again at a later date to continue consultations, he added.