Canada to send election observers to Lebanon

OTTAWA (AFP) – Canada will send 20 observers to monitor Lebanon’s May 29-June 19 parliamentary elections, officials announced.

Ten will join the European Union Electoral Observation Mission and 10 will form an independent Canadian mission that will observe only the first round of the election in Beirut on May 29.

The deployment marks the third Canada Corps mission to observe elections abroad. Canada provided election observers to support the second Ukrainian presidential runoff elections that were held in December 2004 and contributed observers for the Palestinian presidential elections held in January.

Syria will not influence Lebanon poll-PM Mikati

By Mariam Karouny

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s forthcoming parliamentary elections, the first for 33 years without Syrian troops in the country, will be fair and free of Syrian influence, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Thursday.

He said his government, installed last month to organize the polls that run from May 29 to June 19, would act impartially.

“There is no more Syrian influence on Lebanon’s daily political life,” Mikati told Reuters in an interview.

“Damascus decided to leave Lebanon,” the Sunni Muslim politician said. “I’m sure it is as far as it can be from influencing the elections. Syria left Lebanon not to interfere.”

Today’s photo  The Beauty and the sea   Miss Universe 2005 contestant Nadine Njeim of Lebanon takes a minute to enjoy the beach after a pool side photo shoot on the Thai resort island of Phuket May 19, 2005. The Miss Universe 2005 pageant will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 31, 2005. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Christians in Lebanon divided as elections draw near

By Mitchell Prothero , THE WASHINGTON TIMES

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Former Lebanese Army commander Michel Aoun paid a shock visit to his jailed former rival Samir Geagea in what was seen as a bid to unite Lebanon’s Christian community just 10 days before landmark parliamentary elections. 
     
But sharp divisions remain within the coalition that formed after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri to force an end to 29 years of occupation by Syrian troops.

A party now led by Mr. Hariri’s son, Saad, has emerged as a favorite, taking nine of the 19 parliamentary seats in Beirut by acclamation after several challengers withdrew yesterday. But the pro-Syrian party that ruled until its resignation this spring also remains a factor. 
     
Geagea, who was blamed for a wave of political assassinations and bombings when he led the Lebanese Forces militia during Lebanon’s long civil war, has spent most of the past 11 years in solitary confinement in an underground cell for his actions, while other former warlords were rewarded with Cabinet posts.

Lebanon and its message

By R. Moses Reiss

Lebanon’s elections are scheduled to start on May 29, and will continue for the following three Sundays.

Lebanon is estimated to be 95% Arab. In the last election, in 2000, 50% of the electorate voted for Christian parties. How much of the population is Muslim and how much is Christian is unknown. Estimates range from slightly more Christians than Muslims, to 2-1 favoring Muslims. The 450,000 Palestinians in Lebanon are not counted as they have no rights and are forbidden to hold citizenship. The last census was taken in 1932.

Lebanese are believed to originate from the ancient Phoenicians. King Solomon, in building the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem approximately 3,000 years ago, purchased timber from Lebanon, according to the Bible (1 Kings 5:30-31).

Later came the Armenians, who spoke Aramaic, the language of Jesus. The Armenians claim to be the first Gentile group to convert as a result of Constantine’s conversion in the fourth century; they are still called the Malkites. The word is Semitic and its Hebrew root is the word for king. The Hebrew name for Lebanon is Laban, which also means “white”. Laban was Jacob’s father-in-law for both of his wives (Leah and Rachel), and he is at times called the Armenian.

Ragheb Alama promises a heated summer for Lebanon

Lebanese superstar Ragheb Alama has promised this summer season in Lebanon to be filled with celebrations and concerts, offered by him and others from the music industry. The singer called on Arabs throughout the region to overlook the recent tragedies that Lebanon has faced, and to have faith in the country that has been one of the most desirable tourist destinations for years.

Ragheb claims that