LEBANON: PRELIMINARY RESULTS SUGGEST MARCH 14 WINS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000631 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO A/S BRIMMER P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY PARIS FOR RWALLER USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY/KAHL/DALTON DRL/NESA FOR WHITMAN OVP FOR HMUSTAFA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: PRELIMINARY RESULTS SUGGEST MARCH 14 WINS 71 OUT OF 128 SEATS REF: A. BEIRUT 630 ¶B. BEIRUT 629 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Preliminary, unofficial results from IFES, political party representatives, and media outlets indicate that Saad Hariri's March 14 coalition and pro-March 14 independents won the majority in the June 7 parliamentary elections with as many as 71 out of 128 seats. From his Qoreitem residence, Hariri told supporters in the early hours of June 8 that June 7 was "a big day in the history of democratic Lebanon...congratulations to you, congratulations to freedom, congratulations to democracy." Representatives of the opposition conceded defeat without rancor but laid down markers about forming a "national unity" cabinet composed of both blocs. A representative of opposition Christian leader Michel Aoun said "We accept the will of the people" but added that his party would work with March 14 "to form a government of national unity." Hizballah MP Hassan Fadlallah called for a government of "national partnership." As of 1000 hr (Beirut time) on June 8, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud had announced official results for 15 out of 26 electoral districts, and they track with what we heard from unofficial sources. Baroud's announcements on the remaining districts are expected throughout the day. End summary. OFFICIAL RESULTS FOR 15 OF 26 DISTRICTS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) As of 1000 hr (local, Beirut time),Minister of Interior Ziad Baroud announced the following electoral results: - Aley: Winners: Akram Shehayyeb (March 14-Druze),Talal Arslan (March 8-Druze),Henri Helou (March 14-Maronite), Fouad Saad (March 14- Maronite),and Fadi Habr (March 14-Greek Orthodox). Voter turnout was 51 %. - Baalbeck Hermel: Winners: Ali Mokdad (Hizballah-Shia), Nawwar Sahili (Hizballah-Shia),Hussein Hajj Hassan (Hizballah-Shia),Hussein Musawi (Hizballah-Shia),Assem Qanso (March 8-Shia),Kamel Rifai (March 8-Sunni),Walid Sukkarieh (March 8-Sunni),Marwan Fares (March 8-Greek Catholic),and Emile Rahme (March 8-Maronite). Voter turnout was: 49%. - Bacharre: Winners: Setrida Towk Geagea (March 14-Maronite), Elie Keyrouz (March 14-Maronite). Voter turnout was 37%. - Batroun: Winners: Boutros Harb (March 14-Maronite),Antoine Zahra (March 14-Maronite). Voter turnout was: 56%. - Bint Jbeil: Winners: Hasan Fadlallah (Hizballah-Shia),Ali Bazzi (Amal-Shia),Ayoub Humayed (Amal-Shia). Voter turnout was: 42 %. - Jbeil: Winners: Walid Khoury (March 8-Maronite),Simon Aib Rama (March 8-Maronite),Abbas Hashem (March 8-Shia). Voter turnout was: 65%. - Jezzine: Winners: Ziad Aswad (March 8/Aoun-Maronite), Charles Isam Sawaya (March 8/Aoun-Greek Catholic),and Michel Helou (March 8/Aoun-Maronite). Voter turnout was 53%. - Kesrwan: Winners: Michel Aoun (March 8/Aoun-Maronite), Farid El Khazen (March 8 independent-Maronite),Youssef Khalil (March 8 independent-Maronite),Nematallah Abi Nasr (March 8 independent-Maronite),Gilberte Zwein (March 8 independent-Maronite). Voter turnout was 70%. - Koura: Winners: Farid Mekkari (March 14-Greek Orthodox), Farid Habib (March 14-Greek Orthodox),Nicolas Ghosn (March 14 independent-Greek Orthodox). Voter turnout was 67%. BEIRUT 00000631 002 OF 002 - Nabatieh: Winners: Mohammad Raad (Hizballah-Shia),Yassine Jaber (March 8 independent-Shia),and Abdellatif Al Zein (March 8 independent-Shia). No announcement of voter turnout. - Sidon (Saida): Winners: Bahia Hariri (March 14-Sunni), Fouad Siniora (March 14-Sunni). Voter turnout was 68%. - Tyre (Sur): Winners: Mohammad Fneish (Hizballah-Shia), Nawaf Musawi (Hizballah-Shia),Ali Khreiss (Amal-Shia),Abdel Majid Saleh (Amal-Shia). Voter turnout was 48%. - West Bekaa-Rachaya: Ziad Kadri (March 14-Sunni),Jamal Jarrah (March 14-Sunni),Amine Wehbe (March 14-Shia),Wael Abou Faour (March 14-Druze),Robert Ghanem (March 14-Maronite),and Anotine Saad (March 14-Greek Orthodox). No announcement of voter turnout. - Zahrani: Winners: Michel Moussa (March 8 independent-Greek Catholic),Nabih Berri (Amal-Shia),Ali Osseiran (Amal-Shia). Voter turnout was 40%. - Zgharta: Winners: Suleiman Franjieh (March 8-Maronite), Estephan Douaihy (March 8-Maronite),Salim Karam (March 8-Maronite). Voter turnout was 48%. SISON