Lebanon votes in first polls of post-Syria era
AFP
Date: 05-28-05
BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon's first general elections free of Syrian presence in three decades kick off in Beirut on Sunday, with the anti-Damascus opposition set to win a majority of seats in the new parliament.
Nineteen seats are in theory up for grabs in the capital, but nine candidates on the lists of the murdered ex-premier Rafiq Hariri's son Saad have already been elected by default after rival candidates failed to appear or dropped out.
Saad's lists are widely expected to win all 10 other seats in Beirut and experts believe that this situation will keep turnout in Beirut lower than in the last legislative elections in 2000 which stood at 33.8 percent.
The vote marks only the start of four-stage nationwide polls, which will see different regions voting on every Sunday until the end of June.
Despite the crucial importance of the polls, being held under international supervision for the first time, there has been little sign of an intense battle as many of Syria's once-powerful allies have thrown in the towel and the opposition is widely expected to win the lion's share of seats in parliament.
But that victory may be dented by cracks emerging between opposition forces that had gained a powerful new voice after Hariri's assassination.
Throughout the country, a total of 17 candidates have been automatically elected by default, including prominent opposition leader Druze MP Walid Jumblatt and close ally MP Marwan Hamadeh who has accused the Lebanese-Syrian security services of an attempt against his life in October.
The four-stage polls are the first since Syria last month ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon which began in the early days of the country's 1975-1990 civil war.
The pullout came after massive protests and international pressure triggered by the killing of ex-premier Hariri -- credited for Lebanon's post-war rebuilding -- which was widely blamed on the Lebanese regime and political masters in Damascus.
Damascus was the key powerbroker both on the ground in Lebanon and in the corridors of power, a role which ensured the pro-Syrian camp triumphed in the three legislative elections held since the 15-year conflict ended.
Lebanon has some three million voters, 59 percent Muslim and 41 percent Christian, who will be contesting 128 parliamentary seats to be shared equally by the Christian and Muslim communities.
Parliament is elected for four years.
About 420,630 voters, who must be aged over 21, can make their choice in 780 polling stations in the capital's three constituencies where booths will open from 7:00 am (0400 GMT) until 6:00 pm (1500 GMT).
Source
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