Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir reiterated the U.S will to support the Lebanese people one day after meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush. Speaking at the American National Press Club, Sfeir said the U.S. had expressed its commitment to support the Lebanese people in their quest for full sovereignty and independence. He said: "The administration of President George W. Bush has expressed its determination to help the Lebanese rebuild their democratic institutions, starting with the upcoming parliamentary elections."The prelate added that the crime that took the life of late Premier Rafik Hariri has made the Lebanese closer and more united than ever. Sfeir said: "The perpetrators of the crime did not take into consideration that the Lebanese people would rise to face the shock and demand that true democracy take place in the country." He added: "The Lebanese are united in their demand to unveil the true criminals standing behind the assassination of Hariri. That is the only way we can avoid such crimes in the future." Responding to a reporter's question, the prelate said he did not discuss the possibility of sending U.S. troops to Lebanon during his meeting with President Bush. Sfeir said: "We did not hear anything about sending American troops to Lebanon. It might be true, but we did not discuss it." The prelate also said the opposition would not demand President Emile Lahoud's resignation until after the parliamentary elections take place. He said without elaborating: "Maybe it is better to postpone it till after the elections happen." Answering another question, Sfeir said the upcoming parliamentary elections should take place within the constitutional time frame, adding that they should also take place in the light of a full Syrian withdrawal.