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| Lebanon's Hariri-led bloc claims election | Lebanon's Hariri-led bloc claims election |
| (3 days 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 or 71 seats in the new assembly, while the Hezbollah alliance would get 58 seats, Lebanese media 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. | 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. |
| However, analysts predicted that the result would bring another period of political and inter-factional deadlock which has dominated the last four years. | However, analysts predicted that the result would bring another period of political and inter-factional deadlock which has dominated the last four years. |
| Christian vote | Christian 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. href="/2/hi/middle_east/8087983.stm">Crowds turn out for Lebanon vote href="/2/hi/americas/8087683.stm">In pictures: Lebanon votes href="/2/hi/middle_east/8087091.stm">Christians - vote kingmakers href="/2/hi/middle_east/8079481.stm">Q&A: Lebanese elections explained | |
| Some three million people were eligible to cast ballots. | Some three million people were eligible to cast ballots. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Analysts had predicted that the result would depend on inter-Christian races in a few key constituencies. | Analysts had predicted that the result would depend on inter-Christian races in a few key constituencies. |
| Although the official results have yet to be announced in full, the Christian vote was believed to be split evenly between the two camps. | Although the official results have yet to be announced in full, the Christian vote was believed to be split evenly between the two camps. |
| 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. | 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 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 pro-Western bloc was swept to power in 2005, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a car bombing in Beirut. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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 |