An opposition candidate defeated a former president backed by the government to win a parliamentary seat, official results of Lebanese elections showed today.

ARMY and police patrols stood guard yesterday as thousands of Lebanese went to vote in a key election to replace two assassinated lawmakers in the politically torn country.

Twelve people were killed today when explosions tore through two buses travelling near a mountain town north-east of Beirut, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said.

Thousands of Lebanese are unable to return to their homes two weeks after the cease-fire took hold because they feel too insecure or the houses are destroyed, the UN refugee agency said today.