Lebanese vote in key parliamentary election
07 June 2009
People in Lebanon have flocked to polling stations to vote in an election that pits the ruling Western-backed coalition against a Hezbollah-led bloc.
A tight race is predicted between the US-backed 14 March alliance, which has a small majority in parliament, and its rivals, supported by Syria and Iran.
Lebanon's Christian community is split between the two camps.
Analysts say the result could depend on which Christian politicians are elected in a few key constituencies.
Polls across Lebanon opened at 0400 GMT and will close at 1600 GMT. Some three million people are eligible to cast ballots.
LEBANON ELECTIONS KEY FACTS
128-seat, divided along sectarian and communal lines - 64 for Muslims and 64 for Christians
MPs elected for four-year terms
Voting age 21 years
Main 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.
Q&A: Lebanese elections explained
Christians - vote kingmakers
About 50,000 security personnel have been deployed to prevent violence - although none has been reported so far.
Initial results are expected late on Sunday.
Outside interference
Former US President Jimmy Carter, who heads a team of international observers, said Lebanese parties - and their foreign backers - should accept the result of the vote.
"I don't have any concerns over the conduct of the elections. I have concerns over the acceptance of the results by all the major parties," Mr Carter said at a polling station in Beirut.
A tight race is predicted between the US-backed 14 March alliance, which has a small majority in parliament, and its rivals, supported by Syria and Iran.
Lebanon's Christian community is split between the two camps.
Analysts say the result could depend on which Christian politicians are elected in a few key constituencies.
Polls across Lebanon opened at 0400 GMT and will close at 1600 GMT. Some three million people are eligible to cast ballots.
LEBANON ELECTIONS KEY FACTS
128-seat, divided along sectarian and communal lines - 64 for Muslims and 64 for Christians
MPs elected for four-year terms
Voting age 21 years
Main 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.
Q&A: Lebanese elections explained
Christians - vote kingmakers
About 50,000 security personnel have been deployed to prevent violence - although none has been reported so far.
Initial results are expected late on Sunday.
Outside interference
Former US President Jimmy Carter, who heads a team of international observers, said Lebanese parties - and their foreign backers - should accept the result of the vote.
"I don't have any concerns over the conduct of the elections. I have concerns over the acceptance of the results by all the major parties," Mr Carter said at a polling station in Beirut.
source:bbc.co
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