Lebanon’s “Enthusiastic” General Elections Begins
07/06/2009 Lebanese voters began casting their ballots on Sunday in most ‘enthusiastic’ general election in Lebanon’s history.
The 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (0400 GMT to 1600 GMT) vote was taking place amid heavy security measures with the army and police deployed in force throughout the country to prevent security breeches.
In Beirut’s third district, the Head of the Future Movement MP Saad Hariri cast his ballot and called for massive turnout.
According to Al-Manar correspondent, prior to Hariri’s arrival to the polling station, police dogs scouted the area and were caught on camera, however, when Hariri left, men in civil clothes told cameramen to erase everything they had recorded. When asked why, the men in civil clothes refrained from answering.
Former President Emile Lahoud also cast his ballot in his hometown Baabdat. As he was leaving, Lahoud told reporters that there exists a conflict between two paths, one that sees Lebanon’s strength in its weakness and another that believes Lebanon’s strength in its strength.
In northern Metn, Al Manar correspondent reported fair turnout in early hours of Sunday. This district is likely to witness a strong election battle between MP Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform list and the March 14 list.
In Tripoli, north of Lebanon, our correspondent reported a normal election process amid expectations of a massive turnout later in the day. Our correspondent also said that, contrary to the law of elections, leaflets were found this morning in the northern city, urging voters to vote for one list against the other.
Long queues of voters in the southern city of Sidon were reported outside polling stations since the early hours of Sunday.
Similarly, in western Bekaa, voters seemed enthusiastic to take part in the democratic process amid expectations that participants may scratch out some March 14 candidates.
In Jizzine, the turnout in the morning hours was bashful to a certain degree. The turnout is expected to rise during the day.
In south Lebanon, in general, the voters are taking part in the process in the framework of referendum on the resistance and the arms of the resistance, as competition in this region is not as hot as some other districts. Voting in the Baalbek-Hermel district is also considered as a referendum.
There are 3.257 million eligible voters in Lebanon.
2200 local observers more than 200 international observers are taking part in monitoring elections.
Exit polls may become available successively after polling stations are closed at 7pm Beirut time.
Official results are expected Monday afternoon.
07/06/2009 Lebanese voters began casting their ballots on Sunday in most ‘enthusiastic’ general election in Lebanon’s history.
The 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (0400 GMT to 1600 GMT) vote was taking place amid heavy security measures with the army and police deployed in force throughout the country to prevent security breeches.
In Beirut’s third district, the Head of the Future Movement MP Saad Hariri cast his ballot and called for massive turnout.
According to Al-Manar correspondent, prior to Hariri’s arrival to the polling station, police dogs scouted the area and were caught on camera, however, when Hariri left, men in civil clothes told cameramen to erase everything they had recorded. When asked why, the men in civil clothes refrained from answering.
Former President Emile Lahoud also cast his ballot in his hometown Baabdat. As he was leaving, Lahoud told reporters that there exists a conflict between two paths, one that sees Lebanon’s strength in its weakness and another that believes Lebanon’s strength in its strength.
In northern Metn, Al Manar correspondent reported fair turnout in early hours of Sunday. This district is likely to witness a strong election battle between MP Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform list and the March 14 list.
In Tripoli, north of Lebanon, our correspondent reported a normal election process amid expectations of a massive turnout later in the day. Our correspondent also said that, contrary to the law of elections, leaflets were found this morning in the northern city, urging voters to vote for one list against the other.
Long queues of voters in the southern city of Sidon were reported outside polling stations since the early hours of Sunday.
Similarly, in western Bekaa, voters seemed enthusiastic to take part in the democratic process amid expectations that participants may scratch out some March 14 candidates.
In Jizzine, the turnout in the morning hours was bashful to a certain degree. The turnout is expected to rise during the day.
In south Lebanon, in general, the voters are taking part in the process in the framework of referendum on the resistance and the arms of the resistance, as competition in this region is not as hot as some other districts. Voting in the Baalbek-Hermel district is also considered as a referendum.
There are 3.257 million eligible voters in Lebanon.
2200 local observers more than 200 international observers are taking part in monitoring elections.
Exit polls may become available successively after polling stations are closed at 7pm Beirut time.
Official results are expected Monday afternoon.
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