Lebanese security officials, political leaders and religious authorities have received warnings against preparations by regional intelligence agencies to launch a "suicide attack" against a Christian target in north Lebanon with the aim of stirring up a Christian-Sunni confrontation.

Well informed sources told Naharnet religious authorities and security officials have been advised to take precautionary measures around churches, monasteries, schools and universities run by Christian organizations, as well as the seats of bishops in the northern city of Tripoli and surrounding villages.

The security alert also covered the summer seat of the Maronite Church in Diman and the Lebanon seat of Greek Orthodox Patriarch A. Hazim in the Balamand region as possible targets.

Security officials also ordered tightened security measures around the residences of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in the Cedar district, Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh Bnashii, and MP Nayla Moawad in Zghorta.

By choosing targets from the various Christian churches, the scheme aims at stirring up Christian-Sunni confrontation, by attributing such attacks to fundamentalist Islamist groups.

The alleged perpetrators want to alter the balance of power in north Lebanon prior to the 2009 general elections, the sources said.

March 14 leaders believe the plan is similar to the serial assassination campaign that started on Oct. 1, 2004 by targeting then cabinet minister Marwan Hamadeh, who escaped with serious wounds.

That campaign, which also included the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, aimed at preventing the anti-Syria alliance from winning the elections by terrorizing its voters.

However, Syria's allies accuse March 14 forces of seeking to block the 2009 elections or scaring off the population with terror-like attacks because they realize that they would not be able to harvest majority of the new parliament's seats.