Western-backed alliance wins Lebanon election (3rd Roundup)

Jun 7, 2009, 23:52 GMT

Beirut - The biggest winner in Lebanon's parliamentary election was democracy, majority alliance leader Saad Hariri said at a victory rally early Monday.

'These elections have no winner or loser because the only winner is democracy, and the biggest winner is Lebanon,' Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian March 14 Alliance and son of slain former prime minister Rafik Hariri, said.

He conceded that the road ahead was long, and spoke of the continuing threat of 'international, regional and domestic dangers.'

Lebanon's Western-backed majority parties celebrated Sunday after winning the election that pitted them against the Hezbollah-led opposition.

A close aide of Hariri told the German Press Agency dpa: 'So far we will have at least 70 seats in the 128-member parliament, and the majority is back to rule.'

Hariri praised his supporters, as well as Lebanon's security forces, and Arab and international observers, 'all (of whom) contributed to this glorious national day and in establishing democracy.'

Shortly after initial results were out, cars carrying the flags of the majority alliance cruised the streets of the capital, Beirut, their occupants chanting: 'God bless Hariri and the ruling majority.'

In the main Christian area of Ashrafiyeh, followers of the ruling majority gathered at the main square to dance in the streets.

'The Lebanese have made their choice ... we do not want to be ruled by Iran or Syria,' they shouted in reference to the countries that backed the opposition led by the fundamentalist Hezbollah.

Hezbollah's coalition includes the Shiite movement Amal and the group led by Christian former general Michel Aoun, while the majority is headed by Sunni Muslim leader Saad Hariri, who is allied with several Christian groups and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.

The ruling majority is strongly supported by the United States and other Western countries, as well as Saudi Arabia.

Ahead of the polls, Christians feared their role could be marginalized if the opposition won a majority in the legislature.

An interior ministry source confirmed that the opposition had lost the elections.

Christian leader Samir Geagea, a member of the majority, said: 'Tomorrow is another day ... This is a victory for Lebanon, the Lebanese cabinet and the Lebanese people.'

For his part, Prime Minister Fouad Seniora, who retained his seat in the southern port of Sidon, told Lebanese television LBC, 'The result of the election is the people's decision.'

A source close to Hezbollah confirmed to dpa that they lost and said they 'will accept the result as it is.'

Telecommunications Minister Jubran Bassil, Aoun's son-in-law, also confirmed the opposition had lost. 'At the end this is a democratic election and we will accept the loss,' he added.

According to observers, the main loser was Aoun, whose party was defeated in at least three main districts in the Christian regions.

Interior ministry sources said the turnout was between 55 and 65 per cent, with polling in Christian areas said to be higher than in Muslim districts.

The ruling majority won the last elections in 2005 after the assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri. The majority has faced difficulties in ruling the country due to the strong opposition of Hezbollah and its allies.

Former US president Jimmy Carter, who headed a team of international observers during the vote, called on all Lebanese to 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,' Carter said after visiting a polling station in Beirut.

Under Lebanon's complex power-sharing system, parliament's 128 seats are divided equally between Muslims and Christians.