Lebanese flock to polls in high-stakes vote

Authorities appeared overwhelmed by the large number 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.

"Such voter turnout is unheard of 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 – whose outcome is being keenly watched by Lebanon’s neighbors and Western powers.

"Our destiny in Lebanon is to be either pro-West or pro-Iran and that is why this election is very important," said Beirut resident Simone Kosremelli after casting her ballot. "Its both a cultural and economic vote."

At stake is whether multi-confessional Lebanon keeps on a pro-Western course or takes a tilt towards Iran, the regional Shiite powerhouse which backs Hezbollah (the Party of God.)

Analysts are predicting 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 a victory for the Shiite alliance would pose a danger to the entire region by creating another "Iranian entity."

"Lebanon will become a terror state," said Interior Minister Eli Yishai.

The United States, which backs the current Sunni-led coalition and blacklists Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, has warned that continued military aid would hinge on the shape of the new government.

In contrast, Lebanon’s former power broker Syria said the vote was a chance for voters to throw their weight behind the anti-Israeli resistance as represented by Hezbollah – whose militia retains a massive arsenal of weapons.

Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, who is heading a team of international observers, said he hoped Lebanon’s political parties and their foreign backers would accept the outcome.

"We don’t have any worries over the conduct of the elections," Carter said after visiting a polling station in Beirut. "We have concerns over the acceptance of the results by all the major parties."

While no major incidents were reported, election officials said three people were arrested for trying to vote with fake identification.

President Michel Sleiman called on all political parties to tone down their rhetoric to ensure a trouble-free vote.

"Democracy is a blessing we must preserve, a blessing that distinguishes Lebanon in the Middle East," he said.

About 3.2 million Lebanese are eligible to vote. Polling stations close at 7 p.m. (1600 GMT), with early unofficial results expected late on Sunday before official results are issued on Monday.

Under Lebanon’s complex power-sharing system, the 128 seats are divided equally between majority Muslims and minority Christians, who make up about a third of the four million population.

The current majority swept to power in 2005 on a wave of popular anger following the assassination of former billionaire prime minister Rafiq Hariri in a massive Beirut car bombing.

The murder was widely blamed on Syria, which denied any involvement, and the ensuing public outcry led to Damascus withdrawing its troops after 29 years of domination.

It also marked the beginning of a turbulent period which saw Hezbollah thrust to the political forefront through the 2006 war with Israel in which 1,200 people died in Lebanon, most of them civilians.

Political unrest last year also saw a six-month vacuum in the presidency and sectarian clashes that brought the country close to civil war.

"We are voting today to safeguard our freedoms. Many Arabs envy us for this and today we are defending our democracy," said a Beirut voter who identified himself only as Joseph.