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Lebanese ruling coalition claims poll victory Lebanon's Hariri-led bloc claims election
(about 1 hour later)
The leader of Lebanon's governing pro-Western coalition has claimed victory over a Hezbollah-led bloc in the country's parliamentary election.The leader of Lebanon's governing pro-Western coalition has claimed victory over a Hezbollah-led bloc in the country's parliamentary election.
Saad Hariri said his 14 March alliance would retain its majority in the 128-seat parliament.Saad Hariri said his 14 March alliance would retain its majority in the 128-seat parliament.
A key Christian ally of the Hezbollah-led alliance, which is supported by Syria and Iran, admitted defeat in Sunday's elections.A key Christian ally of the Hezbollah-led alliance, which is supported by Syria and Iran, admitted defeat in Sunday's elections.
Official results are due later on Monday. Turnout was more than 50%.Official results are due later on Monday. Turnout was more than 50%.
"Congratulations to you, congratulations to freedom, congratulations to democracy," Mr Hariri told a crowd of his cheering supporters in the capital Beirut."Congratulations to you, congratulations to freedom, congratulations to democracy," Mr Hariri told a crowd of his cheering supporters in the capital Beirut.
Saad Hariri said "the only winner is democracy in Lebanon"Saad Hariri said "the only winner is democracy in Lebanon"
"There is no winner and loser in these elections, the only winner is democracy and Lebanon," he added."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. Mr Hariri's coalition was expected to win 70 or 71 seats in the new assembly, while the Hezbollah alliance would get 58 seats, Lebanese media predicted.
That would almost exactly replicate the balance which existed in the last parliament.
The US, which had feared a possible Hezbollah-led bloc's victory, will now be heaving a sigh of relief, the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says.The US, which had feared a possible Hezbollah-led bloc's victory, will now be heaving a sigh of relief, the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says.
Hezbollah's main Christian ally, the Free Patriotic Movement led by former army chief Michel Aoun, admitted defeat, but pledged to work with the winners to try to form a coalition government. However, analysts predicted that the result would bring another period of political and inter-factional deadlock which has dominated the last four years.
"Lebanon can only be governed by a national unity government," Michel de Chadarevian, a senior member of Mr Aoun's group, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
Christian voteChristian vote
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".
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 explainedLEBANON 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
Some three million people were eligible to cast ballots.Some three million people were eligible to cast ballots.
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. Voting was reported to have been trouble-free across the country, although there have been many reports of vote-buying and large numbers of expatriates being flown home for free to cast votes.
Analysts said earlier that the result could depend on which Christian politicians were elected in a few key constituencies. Under Lebanon's power-sharing system, seats in the 128-member parliament are split equally between the Muslim population and minority Christians, who make up an estimated one-third of Lebanese voters, with further sub-divisions for various religious sects.
The Christian vote was said to be split evenly between the two camps. Analysts had predicted that the result would depend on inter-Christian races in a few key constituencies.
Hezbollah fielded only 11 candidates, though it is a powerful member of the broader opposition coalition, with Mr Aoun's group and the mainstream Shia movement Amal. Although the official results have yet to be announced in full, the Christian vote was believed to be split evenly between the two camps.
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. Hezbollah fielded only 11 candidates, though it is a powerful member of the broader opposition coalition, with Gen Michel Aoun's group and the mainstream Shia movement Amal.
The bombing forced Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon after a 29-year presence amid accusations of Syrian involvement in the attack. The pro-Western bloc was swept to power in 2005, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a car bombing in Beirut.
The government in Damascus has strongly denied the claims. Popular discontent after that attack forced Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, after a 29-year presence, amid accusations of Syrian involvement. The government in Damascus has strongly denied the claims.
The post-2005 unity coalition collapsed in November 2006, with the resignation of all six pro-Syrian ministers, stripping it of representation by Lebanon's largest confessional group, the Shia Muslims.
Parliament was unable to agree on a president and a unity government was only re-formed in May 2008 after the country teetered on the brink of full-scale civil war.
A major division has been over Hezbollah's powerful guerrilla army, which pro-Western elements accuse of disrupting Lebanese stability but which Hezbollah supporters say is vital to resist the threat from Israel.
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