BEIRUT, Lebanon: Vice-President Higher Shia Council Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan said Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir is stirring sectarian tension and President Emile Lahoud is shirking his responsibility.

In reference to a statement from the Maronite Bishops' Council released earlier this week in which Sfeir had complained Christians would be unable to elect their MPs under the controversial 2000 electoral law, the cleric asked: "What is there left for politicians to do when a man of religion is making threats?"

"May God forgive Bkirki, His Eminence in Bkirki and bishops throughout Lebanon," Qabalan said speaking during Friday's prayers. "Our hearts are open to you and our hands are extended to you, come let us reach an agreement."

Qabalan urged the Maronite Patriarch to convene a religious summit to agree on a fair electoral law.

"We urge His Eminence to convene a religious summit anywhere, in Bkirki, Dar al-Fatwa, the Higher Shia Council, anywhere that gathers us together; we clerics should get politicians back on the right track as politicians work for their own interest while clerics have no interest but that of God," he said.

According to Qabalan, such a meeting would decide on a final electoral law.

Qabalan denounced Sfeir's statement that Christians must elect Christian MPs and Muslims their own MPs, saying such idea was "scary" and would lead to federalism.

"We want Christians to elect their Muslim brothers and Muslims to elect their Christian brothers, what is wrong with that?" Qabalan asked, stressing the need for coexistence and national unity.

Meanwhile, several Maronite figures expressed their support for the Maronite Bishops' rejection of the Syrian-authored 2000 electoral law.