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Tensions high for Lebanon polls Tensions high for Lebanon polls
(about 3 hours later)
The atmosphere in Lebanon is tense as two by-elections are held to replace murdered members of parliament from the governing anti-Syrian coalition. Lebanon is tense as voting gets under way in two by-elections to choose replacements for murdered MPs from the ruling anti-Syrian coalition.
The vote to replace former minister Pierre Gemayel is being seen as a key test of support among the deeply divided Christian community. The vote in Metn to replace former minister Pierre Gemayel is being seen as a key test of support among the deeply divided Christian community.
Mr Gemayel's father, former President Amin Gemayel, is running for the seat. Mr Gemayel's father, ex-President Amin Gemayel, 65, is running for the seat.
His supporters have clashed with those of pro-Syrian opposition leader Michel Aoun, who is also a Christian. His supporters have clashed with the backers of the candidate of pro-Syrian opposition leader Michel Aoun.
Both men are potential candidates in this year's divisive presidential election. Both men are potential candidates in this year's divisive presidential election and the race in the in the Metn mountains is expected to be close.
Security alert LEBANESE BY-ELECTIONS Metn: Bitterly opposed rivals in a Christian heartland are fighting to replace MP Pierre Gemayel (above right), shot dead in November West Beirut: Ruling coalition candidate is expected to have easy win in a mainly Sunni area where MP Walid Eido (left) was killed by a bomb in JunePolls close at 1800 (1500 GMT) class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6931498.stm">Polls raise stakes
Thousands of people turned out to vote in the mountains, north-east of Beirut, with queues of people already forming outside more than 300 polling stations when they opened at 0700 (0400 GMT).
Security is tight across the region, particularly outside the headquarters of the two Christian parties which stand just 500 metres (yards) apart and are separated by hundreds of Lebanese soldiers.
Divisions widen
Under Lebanon's sectarian political system, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the speaker a Shia Muslim. Parliament elects the president.Under Lebanon's sectarian political system, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the speaker a Shia Muslim. Parliament elects the president.
The by-elections are for the seats of Pierre Gemayel and Walid EidoThe by-elections threaten to deepen Lebanon's political divisions, correspondents say. The by-elections threaten to deepen Lebanon's political divisions, correspondents say.
They do not have the required approval of President Emile Lahoud, who is allied with the Hezbollah-led opposition, as is parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri.They do not have the required approval of President Emile Lahoud, who is allied with the Hezbollah-led opposition, as is parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri.
Mr Berri has said he will not recognise the results.Mr Berri has said he will not recognise the results.
Mohammed al-Amin Itani from the ruling coalition is expected to win easily in the vote to replace Walid Eido in mainly Sunni West Beirut.Mohammed al-Amin Itani from the ruling coalition is expected to win easily in the vote to replace Walid Eido in mainly Sunni West Beirut.
The race in Metn, a Christian area north-east of Beirut, where there have been clashes over the past week, is expected to be far closer.
Security forces are on high alert in both districts.
The candidate for Mr Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) in Metn is Camille Khoury.The candidate for Mr Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) in Metn is Camille Khoury.
Opening salvoOpening salvo
Mr Gemayel and his allies accuse Syria of orchestrating the shooting of Pierre Gemayel last November and other anti-Syrian figures including Mr Eido, who was killed by a car bomb in June.Mr Gemayel and his allies accuse Syria of orchestrating the shooting of Pierre Gemayel last November and other anti-Syrian figures including Mr Eido, who was killed by a car bomb in June.
Mr Aoun's FPM won a vast majority of the Christian vote in 2005 parliamentary polls, but his support slipped when he allied himself to the pro-Syria Shia Muslim movement Hezbollah.Mr Aoun's FPM won a vast majority of the Christian vote in 2005 parliamentary polls, but his support slipped when he allied himself to the pro-Syria Shia Muslim movement Hezbollah.
The by-elections represent the opening salvos in a campaign for parliament to elect a successor to pro-Syrian President Lahoud, whose term ends later this year.The by-elections represent the opening salvos in a campaign for parliament to elect a successor to pro-Syrian President Lahoud, whose term ends later this year.
The anti-Syrian camp has the simple majority in parliament to elect its own president, but it needs the co-operation of the pro-Syrian opposition to reach a two-thirds quorum.The anti-Syrian camp has the simple majority in parliament to elect its own president, but it needs the co-operation of the pro-Syrian opposition to reach a two-thirds quorum.
Hezbollah and other opposition groups quit a unity cabinet last year and have been boycotting parliament in a campaign to demand a cabinet veto, after anti-Syrian factions won power in 2005 following years of political and military control by powerful neighbour Syria.Hezbollah and other opposition groups quit a unity cabinet last year and have been boycotting parliament in a campaign to demand a cabinet veto, after anti-Syrian factions won power in 2005 following years of political and military control by powerful neighbour Syria.