Can not convert number to a NodeList

<xsl:for-each select="$line">
	<xsl:for-each select="$column">
		<td><xsl:text>C</xsl:text></td>
	</xsl:for-each>

	<xsl:if test="$line&gt;1">
		<tr><xsl:text>L</xsl:text></tr>
	</xsl:if>
</xsl:for-each>

Any ideas how to workaround this? I've tried exslt.org but haven't found
what i needed.

TIA,
CarlosN.