Lebanese flock to polls in closely watched vote
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Daily News with wires
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 08, 2009 00:00
BEIRUT - Lebanese queue up to vote in a hotly contested election that may see an alliance led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah defeat the ruling Western-backed coalition. Hezbollah’s victory in a country frequently used as a pawn in regional power plays may deal a setback to US Mideast policy and boost Iranian-Syrian influence.
Lebanese streamed to their hometowns on the Mediterranean coast and high in the mountains yesterday to vote in a crucial election that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The race for the 128-member parliament will set Lebanon's political course for the next four years, with repercussions beyond this tiny Arab country's borders. A win for the Shiite militant group, which the United States considers a terrorist organization, and its allies could bring isolation to Lebanon and possibly a new conflict with Israel. It could also set back U.S. Mideast policy and boost the influence of Hezbollah's backers, Syria and Iran.
Authorities appeared overwhelmed by the crowds of people who began lining up even before polling stations opened, with many Lebanese complaining of long waits of up three hours to cast their ballots.
Historic turnout
"Such voter turnout is unheard in the history of Lebanese elections," Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said.
About 50,000 police and soldiers were on patrol nationwide to prevent any violence between rival camps during the closely fought election.
"I voted for the first time in my life today simply because these elections will decide in which direction the country will go," Elie Yacoub, who cast his ballot in Beirut, told The Associated Press. Another Beirut resident Simone Kosremelli echoed Yacoub’s remarks, adding: "Our destiny in Lebanon is to be either pro-West or pro-Iran and that is why this election is very important."
President Michel Suleiman was among the early voters, casting his ballot in his hometown of Amchit on the coast north of Beirut. "Democracy is a blessing that distinguishes Lebanon in the Middle East, and we must preserve it," he told reporters.
At stake is whether multi-confessional Lebanon, frequently used as a pawn in regional power plays, keeps on a pro-Western course or takes a tilt towards Iran, the regional Shiite powerhouse which backs Hezbollah, or the Party of God. Analysts predict a tight race for the 128-seat parliament, with the winner likely to clinch victory by just a few seats and probably have to form a coalition government with its rivals. A handful of key battleground constituencies are likely to be crucial, with the Christian vote, which is divided between the two camps, set to tip the scales.
Israel, which fought a devastating war with Hezbollah in 2006, warned that victory for the Shiite alliance would pose a danger to the entire region by creating another Iranian entity. "Lebanon will become a terror state," Interior Minister Eli Yishai was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying.
Lebanon's ex-power broker Syria said the election was a chance for voters to throw their weight behind the anti-Israeli resistance represented by Hezbollah, whose militia retains a massive arsenal of weapons.
Scores of foreign observers, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, have monitored the vote. Speaking in Ashrafieh, Carter expressed hope the U.S., Iran and other countries "will accept the results of the election and not try to interfere in the process."
However, the International Crisis Group said in a report the vote was likely to revive rather than resolve the underlying conflicts.
The race for the 128-member parliament will set Lebanon's political course for the next four years, with repercussions beyond this tiny Arab country's borders. A win for the Shiite militant group, which the United States considers a terrorist organization, and its allies could bring isolation to Lebanon and possibly a new conflict with Israel. It could also set back U.S. Mideast policy and boost the influence of Hezbollah's backers, Syria and Iran.
Authorities appeared overwhelmed by the crowds of people who began lining up even before polling stations opened, with many Lebanese complaining of long waits of up three hours to cast their ballots.
Historic turnout
"Such voter turnout is unheard in the history of Lebanese elections," Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said.
About 50,000 police and soldiers were on patrol nationwide to prevent any violence between rival camps during the closely fought election.
"I voted for the first time in my life today simply because these elections will decide in which direction the country will go," Elie Yacoub, who cast his ballot in Beirut, told The Associated Press. Another Beirut resident Simone Kosremelli echoed Yacoub’s remarks, adding: "Our destiny in Lebanon is to be either pro-West or pro-Iran and that is why this election is very important."
President Michel Suleiman was among the early voters, casting his ballot in his hometown of Amchit on the coast north of Beirut. "Democracy is a blessing that distinguishes Lebanon in the Middle East, and we must preserve it," he told reporters.
At stake is whether multi-confessional Lebanon, frequently used as a pawn in regional power plays, keeps on a pro-Western course or takes a tilt towards Iran, the regional Shiite powerhouse which backs Hezbollah, or the Party of God. Analysts predict a tight race for the 128-seat parliament, with the winner likely to clinch victory by just a few seats and probably have to form a coalition government with its rivals. A handful of key battleground constituencies are likely to be crucial, with the Christian vote, which is divided between the two camps, set to tip the scales.
Israel, which fought a devastating war with Hezbollah in 2006, warned that victory for the Shiite alliance would pose a danger to the entire region by creating another Iranian entity. "Lebanon will become a terror state," Interior Minister Eli Yishai was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying.
Lebanon's ex-power broker Syria said the election was a chance for voters to throw their weight behind the anti-Israeli resistance represented by Hezbollah, whose militia retains a massive arsenal of weapons.
Scores of foreign observers, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, have monitored the vote. Speaking in Ashrafieh, Carter expressed hope the U.S., Iran and other countries "will accept the results of the election and not try to interfere in the process."
However, the International Crisis Group said in a report the vote was likely to revive rather than resolve the underlying conflicts.