The election of president in Lebanon is a "top priority" for the country, the Maronite patriarch of Antioch told the U.N. Security Council at the beginning of his visit to the United States.

Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir addressed the council Thursday, where he spoke of the various issues facing the nation. He also met with privately with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The cardinal's visit is part of a multi-continent trip he began May 4. His first stops included Qatar and South Africa. His scheduled stops in the United States include New York, Philadelphia, and Houston, Texas.

"The issues facing our beloved Lebanon are many," he told the Security Council. "These days are particularly difficult. Last week we witnessed acts of violence and the illegitimate use of force to achieve political ends. This is completely unacceptable and should never happen again."
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