This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6931761.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Rivals claim Lebanon poll victory Rivals claim Lebanon poll victory
(about 1 hour later)
Both government and opposition parties have claimed victory in a tense by-election in a Christian stronghold near Lebanon's capital Beirut.Both government and opposition parties have claimed victory in a tense by-election in a Christian stronghold near Lebanon's capital Beirut.
The poll is being seen as a battle for the Christian leadership, ahead of presidential elections later this year.The poll is being seen as a battle for the Christian leadership, ahead of presidential elections later this year.
Supporters of the two sides have gathered at their nearby headquarters to await the result - between them are tanks and hundreds of troops.Supporters of the two sides have gathered at their nearby headquarters to await the result - between them are tanks and hundreds of troops.
There have been allegations of fraud in the conduct of the poll.There have been allegations of fraud in the conduct of the poll.
The election is one of two being contested to find replacements for two murdered anti-Syrian MPs.The election is one of two being contested to find replacements for two murdered anti-Syrian MPs.
Christian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel was shot dead in November, and Sunni Muslim lawmaker Walid Eido was killed in a Beirut car bomb in June.Christian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel was shot dead in November, and Sunni Muslim lawmaker Walid Eido was killed in a Beirut car bomb in June.
The vote to replace Mr Eido in mainly Sunni West Beirut is widely expected to be won by the candidate from the ruling Western-backed anti-Syrian majority.The vote to replace Mr Eido in mainly Sunni West Beirut is widely expected to be won by the candidate from the ruling Western-backed anti-Syrian majority.
Intense rivalryIntense rivalry
The main contest was in the deeply divided Maronite Christian heartland of Metn. The headline contest was in the deeply divided Maronite Christian heartland of Metn.
[Pierre Gemayel] was killed one time, we don't want to kill him two times Alexander Daghervoter in Metn In pictures: Lebanese vote
Opposition Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun said his candidate, Camille Khoury, had narrowly defeated ex-President Amin Gemayel, a key ally of Lebanon's Western-backed cabinet and the father of the assassinated MP.Opposition Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun said his candidate, Camille Khoury, had narrowly defeated ex-President Amin Gemayel, a key ally of Lebanon's Western-backed cabinet and the father of the assassinated MP.
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) In pictures: Lebanese vote Polls raise stakes
But Mr Gemayel refused to admit defeat and demanded a re-run of the vote in one district.But Mr Gemayel refused to admit defeat and demanded a re-run of the vote in one district.
Mr Aoun is an ally of Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim group backed by Syria.Mr Aoun is an ally of Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim group backed by Syria.
Mr Aoun and Mr Gemayel are potential candidates in this year's election to select a successor to pro-Syrian President Lahoud. Mr Aoun and Mr Gemayel are seen as frontrunners in next month's race to succeed pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.
Their rivalry has intensified amid a wider conflict between Lebanon's pro- and anti-Syrian groups. Under Lebanon's sectarian political system, the presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian, and is elected by parliament.
The rivalry between the two political veterans has intensified amid a wider conflict between Lebanon's pro- and anti-Syrian groups.
Mr Gemayel and his allies accuse Syria of orchestrating the shooting of his son last November and other anti-Syrian figures including Mr Eido.Mr Gemayel and his allies accuse Syria of orchestrating the shooting of his son last November and other anti-Syrian figures including Mr Eido.
Mr Aoun is a former military leader who was once a vocal critic of Syria and won a vast majority of the Christian vote in polls in 2005.Mr Aoun is a former military leader who was once a vocal critic of Syria and won a vast majority of the Christian vote in polls in 2005.
But support for the FPM slipped after Mr Aoun unexpectedly allied himself to the pro-Syria opposition movement Hezbollah.But support for the FPM slipped after Mr Aoun unexpectedly allied himself to the pro-Syria opposition movement Hezbollah.
'High turnout' Divided country
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Lebanon said turnout for the by-elections looked high, with queues two and three deep at some polling stations. Turnout was high in Sunday's vote, and there were no reports of major disturbances, despite the proximity of the two parties' headquarters.
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 "We hope that everything goes quietly tonight," said Mr Aoun.
Although Gen Aoun insists he is not pro-Syrian, in the forthcoming presidential elections he is the preferred candidate of Hezbollah, our correspondent adds. Prime Minister Fuad Siniora hailed the orderly vote as a civilised response to political assassination.
The headquarters of the two Christian parties, which stand just 500m apart, are separated by hundreds of Lebanese soldiers. The two dead politicians are the latest in a growing line of prominent anti-Syrians to be killed on the streets of Beirut.
Amin Gemayel said on Sunday he was standing on behalf of everyone who had died for Lebanon, including his son. The assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a truck bomb in June 2005 drew widespread international condemnation, after which Syrian troops withdrew, after many years in Lebanon.
Alexander Dagher, a voter in Metn, told the BBC that he had turned out to prevent the late Pierre Gemayel being "killed again". Syria has been accused of involvement in the attack - a claim it rejects.
The by-elections threaten to deepen Lebanon's political divisions, correspondents say. Lebanon is a divided country facing its biggest political crisis in years, and these by-election results will not solve the country's deeper problems, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Beirut.
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. In fact they may only raise more questions, he says.
Mr Berri has said he will not recognise the results. President Lahoud, who is allied with the Hezbollah-led opposition, has not given the polls his blessing, and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri has said he will not recognise the results.
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.