Premier's list takes Sidon in Lebanon poll; Hezbollah sweeps rest

May 24, 2010, 14:10 GMT

Beirut - The list backed by Lebanese Premier Saad Hariri won Sunday's municipal elections in the southern port city of Sidon, while Hezbollah and their allies swept the votes in rest of the regions, a source at the Lebanese Interior Ministry announced Monday.

Lebanon's Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said voter turnout in the third phase of Lebanon's municipal elections, which took place in southern Lebanon on Sunday, reached 56 per cent.

In Sidon, a heated election battle took place between followers of Hariri's Western-backed government and others loyal to rival Hezbollah, which also shares some power in the government.

Hezbollah supporters accused their rivals of buying votes.

Lawmaker Bahia Hariri, aunt of the premier, denied the allegations and said: 'People were not paid, and Sidon is not for sale.'

She said that such accusations were 'unfounded,' adding that 'the elections were transparent and free.'

Sidon witnessed some clashes Sunday between the rival camps, resulting in 18 injuries, according to police reports.

In the four election rounds, that started on May 2nd, some 963 local councils and nearly 2,800 mayors will be elected. The final round is set to take place May 30.

Hariri's list has been scoring major gains in key areas during the elections, although Hezbollah has been retaining support in its southern stronghold.

As voting progressed in southern Lebanon, thousands of Hezbollah fighters were on alert, as the Israeli army carried out military drills on its northern frontier with Lebanon.

Well-informed Lebanese sources said Hezbollah has called on its militants in southern Lebanon to be on full alert in case Israel launches a surprise attack targeting Hezbollah's bases and posts.