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Beirut  – Lebanon’s Western-backed majority parties celebrated Sunday after winning a crucial parliamentary election that pitted them against the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Beirut  – Having the right family has been a key to reaching high-ranking positions in Lebanon’s government throughout the country’s political history.

Beirut – The head of the European Union’s 90-man election observation team in Lebanon, which is taking up its duties for this Sunday’s parliamentary election, has said that he hopes the presence of his team will boost the transparency of the upcoming poll.

Beirut  – Michel Aoun, polyglot former military commander and mainstay of the Lebanese Christian community, is running for reform, with his Free Patriotic Party, in Sunday’s parliamentary election.

Beirut  – Saad Hariri, second son and political heir to late Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, has vowed to deliver national unity if his Future Movement is returned to power in Sunday’s parliamentary election.

Beirut  – The complexity of the Lebanese electoral system, coupled with the lack of reliable, independent polls, make it difficult to predict the outcome of Sunday’s parliamentary vote.

Beirut  – US Vice President Joe Biden arrived Friday in Beirut for talks with Lebanese officials, which will focus on the June 7 parliamentary elections.
Biden is accompanied by Jeffrey Feltman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near-Eastern Affairs.

Beirut – Syrian Army Chief of Staff General Ali Habib arrived in Beirut on Tuesday in the first such visit by a senior military official since the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005.

Beirut – Lebanon’s former president and current head of the Christian Phalange Party, Amin Gemayel, was admitted to the hospital Monday after falling ill.
Local radio said Gemayel, 67, was rushed to the hospital suffering from chest pains.

Faraya, Lebanon  – Models in thongs and lacy bras graced the catwalk over the weekend at the foot of snow-covered slopes in Lebanon to promote the country’s much-delayed ski season.