Anti-Syrian Candidates Concede in Lebanon

[hadrons]

SOUK EL-GHARB, Lebanon - Anti-Syrian candidates apparently suffered major losses in a third round of elections Sunday to fill nearly half the seats in parliament, a senior opposition leader conceded after a campaign that led to some surprising alliances.

Walid Jumblatt said former army commander Michel Aoun, who broke opposition ranks and joined pro-Syrian groups on an anti-corruption slate, was winning in contested constituencies.

Aoun's success could hurt the opposition's drive to gain a majority in the 128-seat legislature and leave him a key player in the fight over Syrian control. An empowered Aoun could put the brakes on the opposition's campaign to remove the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.

Preliminary results and campaign estimates showed Aoun and his allies leading in several districts in Mount Lebanon and in the eastern Bekaa Valley. In some areas, his allies were already celebrating with fireworks. Official results were expected Monday.

....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050612/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_elections

[wellst0nev0ter]

1. McFreedom On The March

Well, it's a democracy, neocons can either take it or leave it.

[mom cat]

3. or try to subvert it!

[Jack Rabbit]

2. BBC (early Monday): Lebanon opposition admits losses

From the BBC Online
Dated Monday June 13 00:46 GMT (Sunday 5:46 pm PDT)

Lebanon opposition admits losses

A senior Lebanese opposition figure, Walid Jumblatt, has conceded that the anti-Syrian opposition has suffered a reverse in a crucial election.

Official results from the third stage of parliamentary polls are not due until later on Monday.

But supporters of former Christian army commander Michel Aoun have already been celebrating a sweeping victory in the central area of Mount Lebanon.

Voting also took place in the Bekaa Valley, in the east.

Read more.

Aoun's defeat in 1990 ended the Lebanese Civil War. His political return is not a good omen.