The Hindu : International : Lebanese vote in third phase poll

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Monday, Jun 13, 2005

International

International

Lebanese vote in third phase poll

ALEY (LEBANON): Lebanon's political direction was in the hands of voters in the central and eastern region, who turned out on Sunday to decide nearly half the legislative seats in the third stage of staggered parliamentary elections, as Syria continued to cast a shadow over its tiny neighbour. Underlining the fierce competition, media reported a high turnout in Mount Lebanon, the mountain region surrounding Beirut and stretching north and south of the city. Many stood in line outside polling stations to vote in the nation's first elections free of Syrian forces in 29 years. About 1.2 million men and women over 21 are eligible to vote. About 100 candidates are competing in Mount Lebanon for 35 seats, allocated to different sects according to Lebanon's power-sharing political system. In the eastern Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border, 119 persons are challenging 23 seats. Michel Aoun, a staunch anti-Syrian former army commander who is challenging the anti-Syrian Opposition with his own ticket, was among the first to vote, arriving under heavy guard at a polling station Haret Hreik, a Shiite Muslim southern suburb of Beirut that is the stronghold of the pro-Syrian militant group Hezbollah. About 200 voters, supporters and well-wishers broke into cheers and applause for the Christian leader, who returned home in May after 14 years' exile in France. Mr. Aoun said he hoped his group would debut in Parliament with at least 12 seats, and pledged a reform, anti-corruption plan. ``In the end, we all bow before the people's will,'' he told reporters. It was Mr. Aoun's first trip to his hometown in more than 20 years and it was believed to be his first time to ever cast a ballot.

— AP

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