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| Lebanese ruling coalition claims poll victory | Lebanese ruling coalition claims poll victory |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The leader of Lebanon's governing pro-Western coalition has claimed victory over a Hezbollah-led bloc in a tight parliamentary election. | |
| Saad Hariri said his 14 March alliance would retain its majority in the 128-member parliament. | Saad Hariri said his 14 March alliance would retain its majority in the 128-member parliament. |
| A politician close to the Hezbollah-led bloc, supported by Syria and Iran, admitted defeat in Sunday's elections, Reuters news agency reported. | |
| Official results are due on Monday. Turnout was put at more than 52%. | |
| "Congratulations to you, congratulations to freedom, congratulations to democracy," Mr Hariri told a crowd of his cheering supporters in the capital Beirut. | |
| "There is no winner and loser in these elections, the only winner is democracy and Lebanon," he added. | |
| Mr Hariri's coalition was expected to win 70 seats in the new assembly, while the Hezbollah alliance would get 58 seats, Mr Hariri's Future TV station predicted. | |
| Christian vote | |
| An unnamed senior politician close to the Hezbollah-led bloc told Reuters: "We have lost the election. We accept the result as the will of the people." | |
| LEBANON ELECTIONS KEY FACTS 128-seat, divided along sectarian and communal lines - 64 for Muslims and 64 for ChristiansMPs elected for four-year termsVoting age 21 yearsMain factions- 14 March Coalition: Future movement; Progressive Socialist Party; Christian Lebanese Forces; Christian Phalangist party.- 8 March Coalition: Hezbollah; Amal movement headed by the parliamentary Speaker Nabih Birri; Free Patriotic Movement of Gen Michel Aoun. Crowds turn out for Lebanon vote In pictures: Lebanon votes Christians - vote kingmakers Q&A: Lebanese elections explained | |
| Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said turnout had exceeded that of the 2005 election and was "unheard of in the history of Lebanese elections". | Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said turnout had exceeded that of the 2005 election and was "unheard of in the history of Lebanese elections". |
| Some three million people were eligible to cast ballots. Full results are not expected until later on Monday. | Some three million people were eligible to cast ballots. Full results are not expected until later on Monday. |
| Under Lebanon's power-sharing political system, seats in the 128-member parliament are split equally between Christians and Muslims, with further sub-divisions for various sects. | Under Lebanon's power-sharing political system, seats in the 128-member parliament are split equally between Christians and Muslims, with further sub-divisions for various sects. |
| Analysts said earlier that the result could depend on which Christian politicians were elected in a few key constituencies. | Analysts said earlier that the result could depend on which Christian politicians were elected in a few key constituencies. |
| The Christian vote was said to be split evenly between the two camps. | The Christian vote was said to be split evenly between the two camps. |
| Hezbollah fielded only 11 candidates, though it is a powerful member of the broader opposition coalition, which includes the maverick Christian leader Michel Aoun, and the mainstream Shia movement Amal. | Hezbollah fielded only 11 candidates, though it is a powerful member of the broader opposition coalition, which includes the maverick Christian leader Michel Aoun, and the mainstream Shia movement Amal. |
| The current majority in parliament was swept to power in 2005, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in a car bombing in Beirut. | The current majority in parliament was swept to power in 2005, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in a car bombing in Beirut. |
| The bombing forced Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon after a 29-year presence amid accusations of Syrian involvement in the attack. | The bombing forced Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon after a 29-year presence amid accusations of Syrian involvement in the attack. |
| The government in Damascus has strongly denied the claims. | The government in Damascus has strongly denied the claims. |
| Are you in Lebanon? What are your hopes for the outcome of this election? Send us your views using the form below. | Are you in Lebanon? What are your hopes for the outcome of this election? Send us your views using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |