Lebanon`s parliamentary elections: clean sweep of Rafik al-Hariri

The bloc of candidates led by the son of slain &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2001/10/31/19675.html ' target=_blank>Rafik al-Hariri claimed a clean sweep of Beirut seats in Lebanon`s parliamentary elections on Sunday.

"The list of the martyr Hariri has won all the seats in today`s election," an aide to Saad al-Hariri said.

Hariri`s bloc had already won nine of the capital`s 19 seats in the 128-member parliament before the vote because they were not contested.

The aide said candidates on Hariri`s list, including one from the Shi`ite Muslim &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/printed.html?news_id=14874 ' target=_blank>Hizbollah movement, had taken all 10 undecided seats in Beirut, the first region where Lebanon's phased elections took place, reports Reuters.

According to the Washington Post, the three districts in the Lebanese capital vote first in the staggered elections. Other regions vote on the next three consecutive Sundays.

About 420,000 people are eligible to vote in Beirut for 19 of the legislature`s 128 seats, which are divided equally among Muslims and Christians.