From: ayman@eecs.umich.edu (Ayman I. Kayssi)
Subject: Boueiz's team wins Lebanese by-elections
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 92 22:23:14 EDT
Organization: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

[ Article crossposted without permission ]
[ Author was DALAL SAOUD ]
[ Posted on 11 Oct 92 21:12:22 GMT ]


	BEIRUT, Lebanon (UPI) -- Former Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz and
three of his running mates won by-elections in the Christian district of
Kesrouwan in the last stage of the country's general elections,
according to official results announced late Sunday.
	Boueiz, leading a list of five Christian Maronite candidates, won the
highest number of votes. Kamil Ziadeh, Elias Al Khazen and Mansour Al
Boun, all Christian Maronites, won three seats.
	Only one of Boueiz's running mates, businessman Henri Sfeir, was
defeated. He lost to Rashid Al Khazen, who headed a five-member
opposition team.
	As the officials results came in, jubilant supporters crammed
Boueiz's residence, dancing and hugging each other.
	``The Kesrouwan people have said their word today and proved that the
decision is theirs,'' Boueiz said, addressing a crowd in the
mountainous, coastal region.
	Earlier, Interior Minister Sami Khatib told a news conference the
elections took place in ``an atmosphere of freedom.'' 
	``Today we open a new page of freedom and democracy,'' Khatib told
reporters. He called on all parties, including the Christian opposition
groups, to join forces to save post-war Lebanon.
	The majority of Kesrouwan residents remained indoors in line with a
two-day general strike called by Christian groups that boycotted three
phases of general elections between Aug. 23 and Sept. 3.
	Earlier, the Christians claimed the vote, the first in 20 years,
would not be fair until Syria withdrew its troops from Beirut. They
feared the vote would be biased in favor of Syrian-backed groups.
	The elections in Kesrouwan were orginally scheduled for Aug. 30 but
were postponed after all but one candidate withdrew and almost all
voters refused to cast their ballots.
	But following the defeat of some of Syria's main allies in the
earlier rounds, some 22 Christian candidates announced their candidacy
for Sunday's ballot.
	Some 7,000 Lebanese soldiers and policemen erected checkpoints and
walked foot patrols to maintain law and order in the Christian region.
	Witnesses said roads were blocked by tires and stones in the Wata Al
Jouz area to prevent voters from reaching the polling stations. Fuel was
spilled in the village of Ghazir and nails were thrown on the roads to
delay the arrival of the voters.
	``Army troops were dispatched immediately to remove all obstacles and
restore order,'' a police officer said.
	The witnesses said flyers were distributed and placards raised,
calling on the Kesrouwan inhabitants to boycott the by-elections.
	``Boycott the voting and avoid false testimony,'' said one placard. 
``Woe unto those who would vote,'' said another.
	A number of clergymen refused to receive ballot boxes in their
churches, prompting soldiers to erect tents for the voters.
	The Christian-run ``Voice of Lebanon'' radio station said an army
force was dispatched to the village of Ghadir to disperse demonstrators
who blocked roads to protest the elections.
	The radio said ``today is a mourning day, marking the death of
democracy in the country.'' It said church bells tolled and black flags
fluttered in sign of mourning.
	``Some candidates are even paying between $100 to $200 for each vote
to secure their success,'' the radio claimed.

--
Ayman I. Kayssi                               |    ayman@eecs.umich.edu
EECS Department                               +------------------------
University of Michigan                        |          (313) 764-8033