IF LEBANON ELECTS HIZBALLAH, THEN THEY WILL GET WHAT THEY DESERVE: CIVIL WAR; SHARIA...

ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES:

EURONEWS:

The Lebanese are voting in parliamentary elections with the governing coalition awaiting the results nervously as it seeks to fend off a strong challenge from the Hezbollah-led opposition.

While voting is expected to pass off peacefully, the announcement of the results on Monday could spark trouble. Both national and international observers from the European Union are overseeing the vote.

“The European Union election observation mission is working with 100 observers and we’re going to cover roughly 20 % of the polling stations around the country. I think it’s really enough in order to get an idea of what is happening. But everything seems so far normal”, said Jose Ignacio Salafranca, chief of the EU team of observers.

Three point two million people are eligible to vote, and the Christian community is expected to swing the balance, split as it is between the Shi’ite Hezbollah backed by Syria and Iran, and the Sunni-led coalition.

In the event of a Hezbollah victory, it remains unclear whether Saad al-Hariri would join a national coalition.

CANADA.COM:

Outside a polling station in the Lebanese Metn district, supporters of rival Christian groups camp out amicably under umbrellas urging voters to cast ballots in a parliamentary election on Sunday.

But ask Christian voters what will happen if the party they support loses, and the answers are instantly less friendly, with both sides accusing each other of dragging the country toward a bleak future.

Most of the 3.2 million Lebanese eligible to vote in Sunday's election cast their ballots based on sectarian affiliations.

Sunnis are voting overwhelmingly for Saad al-Hariri's pro-Western alliance, Shi'ites for Syrian and Iranian-backed Hezbollah, but the mainly Maronite Christians are divided between the two camps, making them the key voters in this closely contested election.

• A HIZBALLAH VICTORY WOULD MEAN LEBANON WOULD BECOME ANOTHER GAZA, ANOTHER SWAT -

• AND IT WOULD MEAN THE FINAL COLLAPSE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY THERE.

• AND IT WOULD HAND ANOTHER ONE OF ISRAEL'S BORDER'S OVER TO IRAN.