Clean sweep for Hezbollah and allies

Hezbollah and its Shiite allies declared themselves victorious in southern Lebanon in today’s second stage of national elections.

The militant group hopes the vote will show proof of its strength and send a message of defiance to the US.

Four hours after polling stations closed, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Sheik Naim Kassem, and election ally Nabih Berri of the Shiite Muslim Amal movement, said they had won all 23 seats in the region, which borders Israel.

Official results were not due before midday (9am Irish Time) tomorrow.

“It has become clear that all members of the Resistance, Liberation and Development Ticket have won in (southern Lebanon’s) two regions,” Kassim said.

“The south has declared through this vote its clear stance in supporting this track.”

He said that in one constituency, with more than half the votes counted, Hezbollah official Mohammed Raad was leading with 69,207 votes against his closest rival, Elias Abu Rizk who got 7,000 votes.

In the another, with more than third of votes counted, Berri was leading with 35,560 while his closest opponent, Riad Asaad had 5,304 votes, Kassim said.

In the south, Lebanese security officials said a Katyusha rocket set to be fired on Israel from a border area was dismantled by security forces late Saturday before it was launched.