From: ayman@eecs.umich.edu (Ayman I. Kayssi)
Subject: U.S. disappointed in outcome of Lebanese elections
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 92 19:59:51 EDT
Organization: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

[ Article crossposted without permission ]
[ Author was SID BALMAN Jr. ]
[ Posted on Tue, 8 Sep 92 14:53:49 PDT ]

	WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Voting irregularities and lack of widespread
participation in the first Lebanese elections since 1972 contributed to
a disappointing outcome, an administration spokesman said Tuesday.
	Despite U.S. calls to the contrary, State Department spokesman
Richard Boucher said that voter turnout in some areas was extremely low
and that ``there were also widespread reports of irregularities.''
	``We repeatedly called for free and fair elections in an environment
that would be devoid of intimidation and coercion,'' Boucher said. ``The
United States is clearly disappointed that the elections were not
prepared and not carried out in a manner to ensure the broadest national
consensus.
	``I don't think you could say that they were completely free and
fair.''
	Nevertheless, Boucher said, the United States will recognize the
elected government of Lebanon and work with it to help achieve the
administration's broader goals in the region.
	``We will deal with the Lebanese government,'' Boucher said. ``The
depth of our relationship with any given government depends on a whole
host of factors, depends on the kind of progress towards the important
goals that we like to see accomplished throughout the world.''
	Boucher said Beirut should now focus on rebuilding a nation ripped
apart during 16 years of civil war, reconciling differences between
warring Christian and Moslem factions and reclaiming territory occupied
by Syria and Israel.
	Those principles are embodied in an agreement signed two years ago by
Arab nations and warring Lebanese factions in the Saudi Arabian town of
Taif.
	The Taif accords, which ended the brutal Lebanese civil war, called
in stages for an end to the fighting and then elections.
	The next stage mandates that Syrian peace-keeping troops withdraw
from all of Lebanon to the western edge of the Arab nation's Bekaa
Valley and that Israeli troops withdraw from the so-called security zone
in the south.
	The Taif accords are a cornerstone of U.S. policy toward Lebanon
because they will theoretically stop fighting, close terrorist training
camps in the Syrian-controlled Bekaa Valley and enhance the prospects
for a far-reaching Middle East peace agreement.
	But the final round of general elections in Lebanon Tuesday, which
were marred by strong-arm tactics and a boycott, brought more warlords
and Muslim fundamentalists to Parliament.
	The 22-member list headed by the pro-Syrian Shi'ite Amal movement
leader Nabih Berri scored a sweeping victory over feudal lord and former
House Speaker Kamel Assad. Two candidates of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah
were among the winners, bringing the total number of Hezbollah deputies
in the new Parliament to eight.
	Officials sources said the turnout was high in southern Lebanon but
low during the first and second phases in the east and north.
	Gov. Halim Fayyad said it reached 80 percent in the Sidon district
and 50 to 60 percent in Nabatiyeh and Tyre. He said only 15 percent of
voters from Israel's self-declared ``security zone'' participated in the
elections.
	Fayyad said a number of the zone inhabitants left the week before
Gen. Antoine Lahd, commander of the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army
militia, ordered all gates closed.
	Lahd threatened all zone inhabitants who voted with permanent
banishment from the zone, strengthening the position of Christian
opposition groups who boycotted the elections on grounds that results
would be biased in favor of pro-Syrian candidates.
	The Christians, who are observing a three-day strike in protest of
the polls, wanted to postpone them until Syria withdraws its troops from
Beirut and relocates them in the Bekaa Valley.

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