June 1, 2005 - 12:50 PM

Anti-Syria forces square off in Lebanon elections

By Nadim Ladki

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Anti-Syrian opposition groups said on Wednesday they would compete against each other in a key stage of Lebanon's general elections this month, drawing a sharp rebuttal from the influential Maronite Christian bishops.

Voters go to the polls in the mainly Shi'ite Muslim south on Sunday, but with a pro-Syrian ticket apparently assured of victory, focus has shifted to the central Mount Lebanon polls due on June 12 in the staggered elections.

Staunchly anti-Syria Christian leader Michel Aoun will square off against Druze leader Walid Jumblatt in the Alley-Baabda constituency and against a fellow Christian opposition coalition in three other central constituencies.

"The chaos within the ranks that we are seeing indicates an ignorance of national principles and a lack of clarity of options," the Maronite bishops said in a statement.

The bishops, led by anti-Syrian Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, said the chaos had driven Christians into a losing position.

"Competing in the parliamentary elections is legitimate in the spirit of democracy and mutual respect and according to national programs," they said after their monthly meeting.

"But it becomes very harmful when it is transformed into a competition of interests and personal rivalries."

Among major challenges facing Lebanon after the polls are redefining ties with Syria, United Nations demands to disarm Hizbollah guerrillas and tackling a debt of $34 billion.

The various opposition factions fielding candidates in the central Lebanon polls said they would declare their candidate lists within hours in what is widely seen the most heated stage of the May 29-June 19 elections.

PRO-SYRIAN ON BOARD

With much at stake in the mixed Alley-Baabda constituency, which has Maronite, Druze and Shi'ite voters, both opposition leaders have sought the backing of pro-Syrian forces.

Aoun has forged an alliance with pro-Syrian Druze figure Talal Arslan while Jumblatt joined forces with the Shi'ite Hizbollah militant group, a close ally of Syria.

A joint ticket between the staunchly anti-Israel Hizbollah and the more moderate Amal movement is set to capture all 23 seats up for grab in south Lebanon. Six candidates on the list have already won their seats uncontested.

An anti-Syria slate led by Saad al-Hariri, son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, swept Beirut polls on May 29, grabbing all of the capital's 19 seats. Only one of the winning candidates is pro-Syrian -- a Hizbollah member who was on Hariri's list.

But turnout was low in what some analysts said was a sign of disappointment by the hundreds of thousands of Christians, Sunni and Druze protesters who took to the streets after the Feb. 14 killing of the elder Hariri.

The flag-waving protests forced Syria to adhere to international pressure and quit Lebanon in April, and toppled the pro-Syrian government and powerful security chiefs.

But the euphoria has given way to dismay at politicians who have reverted to electoral horse-trading and alliances that curtail voter choice. Though he is a political newcomer, the Beirut victory made Hariri, 35, a strong contender to lead the next government and pursue the political and economic policies of his billionaire businessman father.

He has not yet said publicly if he would seek that job.