Anti-Syrian opposition wins in Lebanon parliamentary elections

Syria's long politicial hold on Lebanon has been broken as the country's anti-Syrian opposition secured a majority in parliament Monday. According to unofficial results, the opposition candidates swept all seats in the last round of elections.

Anti-Syrian opposition leader Saad Hariri is expected to announce the victory himself later Monday at a news conference, but an anonimous official from the opposition party has already said the slate had won all seats in the north, guaranteeing the parliamentary majority.

According to AP, women and children waved flags and danced on the streets of the port city of Tripoli, capital of the north, after the victory was annonced. Motorcades of cheering, honking supporters drove through Beirut, the Lebanese capital, in celebration.

A pro-Syrian leader acknowledged the outcome from the final round of elections in northern Lebanon on Sunday.

The latest developments capped months of political upheaval since the February assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Hariri died in a blast in central Beirut that killed 17 other people. The Lebanese opposition blamed Syria and its Lebanese allies, who both denied any involvement.

Saad Hariri, son of the slain former premier, needed to win at least 21 of the 28 seats at stake in the north Lebanon balloting after Christian leader Michel Aoun and his allies made a strong showing in a previous round in central Lebanon last week, denying the opposition a majority.

According to the Turkish online newspaper Zaman, Saad Hariri son announced during his post-election speech that the Lebanese public had voted for change. As Christian leader Franjieh said, they "faced what they had been afraid of" - regional votes are distributed according to religious differences.

Apparently the most powerful candidate for the prime ministry is Hariri.