"I assured His Eminence that United States policy is to work with friends and allies to insist that Syria completely leave Lebanon, Syria take all her troops out of Lebanon, Syria take her intelligence services out of Lebanon, so that the election process will be free and fair," Bush said today, Agence France-Presse reported.

Cardinal Sfeir, a leader of the Maronite-rite Church, said he hopes for "a free, independent, pluralistic and sovereign Lebanon."

China Is Pressed for Response on Clergy

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 15, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The U.S. bishops’ conference has requested information from China about the 37 prelates and priests «either imprisoned, under house arrest, under surveillance or otherwise prevented from exercising their ministry» there.