Nine Christian legislators were taken by two army helicopters to the airport at Larnaca, Cyprus, where they boarded a special Saudi aircraft that took them to their destination.

In a signed statement Mr. Kohl, still a Christian Democratic legislator, said, "These flights had nothing to do with my work as chancellor."

Without many Christian legislators in the opposition, it will be hard to vote Mr. Lahoud out of the presidency, which is reserved for a Christian.

Muslim and Christian legislators have been conducting advance talks in an effort to insure some success at Saturday's session.

The Party of God has rejected the recent peace agreement reached between Muslim and Christian legislators in the Saudi Arabian summer resort of Taif.

Presumably Christian legislators, if they were praying, were praying to the God and Father of Jesus Christ.

Christian legislators who signed the Taif accord have been barred from the Christian enclave.

He was referring to the peace accord signed last month in Taif, Saudi Arabia, by Muslim and Christian Lebanese legislators.

Seeking advice and support in forming a Cabinet, Mr. Hoss met with Muslim and Christian legislators as well as several former prime ministers.

Christian legislators opposed to Syrian-backed candidates had boycotted the electoral sessions.