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