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Tensions high for Lebanon polls Thousands of Lebanese cast votes
(about 4 hours later)
Security is tight for two Lebanese by-elections set to choose replacements for murdered MPs from the ruling anti-Syrian coalition. Tens of thousands of Lebanese have cast their votes in tense polls to find replacements for two murdered MPs from the ruling anti-Syrian coalition.
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. Security is tight at the by-elections in Beirut and the deeply- divided Christian stronghold of Metn.
Mr Gemayel's father, ex-President Amin Gemayel, 65, is running for the seat. But no violence has been reported at busy polling stations in either area.
His supporters have clashed with those backing the candidate of the other main Christian leader, Michel Aoun. 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.
Civil strife
But a fierce struggle is under way between two bitter rival parties in the Maronite Christian heartland of Metn.
Former President and Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, 65, is standing to replace his murdered son, Pierre.
[Pierre Gemayel] was killed one time, we don't want to kill him two times Alexander Daghervoter in Metn[Pierre Gemayel] was killed one time, we don't want to kill him two times Alexander Daghervoter in Metn
Mr Aoun, a former military leader who was once a vocal critic of Syria, last year forged an alliance with the pro-Syrian Hezbollah opposition movement. His supporters have clashed with those backing the candidate of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) of former military chief Michel Aoun.
Both Mr Aoun and Mr Gemayel are potential candidates in this year's divisive presidential election and the race in the in the Metn mountains is expected to be close. Mr Aoun and Mr Gemayel are potential candidates in this year's election to select a successor to pro-Syrian President Lahoud.
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. Their rivalry has intensified amid a wider conflict between Lebanon's pro- and anti-Syrian groups.
Voting queues Mr Gemayel and his allies accuse Syria of orchestrating the shooting of his son last November and other anti-Syrian figures including Mr Eido.
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). 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.
'High turnout'
Army and police patrols have been on guard outside polling stations across the Metn mountains, where the vote is said to be on a knife edge.
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.
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) Polls raise stakesLEBANESE 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) Polls raise stakes
Although General Michel Aoun insists he is not pro-Syrian, in the forthcoming presidential elections he is the preferred candidate of Hezbollah, our correspondent adds.
The FPM is contesting the seat with Camille Khoury, a doctor, as its candidate.
The headquarters of the two Christian parties, which stand just 500 metres apart, are separated by hundreds of Lebanese soldiers.
Amin Gemayel said on Sunday he was standing on behalf of everyone who had died for Lebanon, including his son.Amin Gemayel said on Sunday he was standing on behalf of everyone who had died for Lebanon, including his son.
Alexander Dagher, a voter in Metn, told the BBC that he had turned out to prevent the late Pierre Gemayel being "killed again".Alexander Dagher, a voter in Metn, told the BBC that he had turned out to prevent the late Pierre Gemayel being "killed again".
"The place was for Pierre Gemayel and I came here to put my voice against all the people who are trying to kill him one more time," he said.
"So he was killed one time, we don't want to kill him two times."
As Aoun supporters drove in convoys, beeping their horns and displaying their movement's orange flags, voter Fadi Nasr told AFP news agency why he was backing the rival FPM:
"We are proud of our alliance with Hezbollah because it has made our lives easier in terms of living together in peace, Christians and Muslims."
Mr Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) is contesting the seat with Camille Khoury, a doctor, as its candidate.
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.
The 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. 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.
Opening 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 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 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.