US President George W. Bush reiterated on Wednesday that Syria must withdraw its troops and intelligence services from Lebanon.

In his meeting with Lebanese Maronite leader Nasrallah Sfeir, Bush said "US policy is to work with friends and allies to insist that Syria completely leave Lebanon, Syria take all her troops outof Lebanon, Syria take her intelligence services out of Lebanon, so that the election process will be free and fair."

Syria agreed and has begun to withdraw its some 14,000 troops and intelligents from Lebanon after the Feb. 14 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri sparked fierce anti-Syrian protestsin Beirut and global calls for the Syrians to leave.

Sfeir, 85, a leading figure in the Lebanese Christian opposition, was making his first visit to Bush's White House.

Ordained a cardinal in 1994, Sfeir is seen as the protector of Lebanon's Maronite community, the country's largest Christian group. Of the country's 3.5 million people, 37 percent are Christian and 63 percent Muslim, according to recent estimates.

"We are hopeful, as Lebanese, with this effort of their friendsaround the world will be able to build a better future in a free, independent, pluralistic and sovereign Lebanon," said Sfeir.

"His eminence and I discussed, of course, Lebanon and our deep desire for Lebanon to be a truly free country, free where people can worship the way they choose to, free where people can speak their mind, free where political parties can flourish, a country based upon free elections," said Bush.