Hizbullah's Political Council member Ghaleb Abu Zainab on Monday turned over to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun the key to the old Church in the village of Lassa.

Aoun, talking to reporters at his residence in Rabiyeh north of Beirut, expressed gratitude to Hizbullah for the goodwill gesture.

He told reporters the church key was sent to Bishop Andary, who is in charge of the region.

Aoun declared support for a reconciliation meeting between Hizbullah and the Progressive Socialist Party at the residence in Khaldeh of Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan.

Earlier Arslan told reporters at Aoun's residence that he is allied with Aoun and Hizbullah and would not give up the alliance.

The key to Lassa's old church has caused controversy since the year 2001, when a Shiite cleric from the local community tried to use it as a mosque.

However, Aoun said reconciliation between the FPM and the PSP is "postponed" due to differences related to the issue of Christians displaced from their villages during the civil war.