BEIRUT (Reuters) - An anti-Syrian coalition, known as "March 14," defeated the "March 8" alliance composed of Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday, politicians on both sides said.

Hezbollah is a surprisingly efficient organization, despite the fact that it is many things at once. It is the dominant Shiite political party and a strong opposition voice inside and outside parliament. It also acts as an army: resisting Israeli occupation from 1982 to 2000 and fighting Israel to a draw in 2006; receiving arms, training, and financing from Iran; and serving as a military proxy for Iran and Syria.
It provides hospitals, schools, and social services in Shiite areas of the country. In many ways, Hezbollah acts as a state-within-a-state — sharing power with other groups in the government, but maintaining its own army, finances, and foreign policy. This is Hezbollah's preferred mode of operation: benefiting from the cover of the legitimate multicommunal Lebanese republic, while maintaining enough military and political influence to be left alone.

Michel Aoun, a former military chief and leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), which is allied to Hezbollah, conceded on Lebanon's OTV that his party's candidates had been defeated. The win by the March 14 coalition had been by no means certain and it was thought the elections would be decided in Christian districts where Aoun's candidates challenged other Christian competitors allied to the March 14 camp.

News Middle East March 14 bloc wins Lebanon vote Even before the official results were out, March 14 supporters began to celebrate [AFP] Official results have confirmed the victory of Lebanon's March 14 coalition over the opposition Hezbollah-led alliance in the country's parliamentary elections. Ziad Baroud, the interior minister, announced the figures on Monday, confirming what had already been predicted by the country's newspapers. The results showed the Sunni-led March 14 coalition, led by Saad Hariri, the son of Rafiq Hariri, the assassinated former prime minister, winning 71 seats in the 128-seat parliament, while the Hezbollah-led alliance took 57. Even before the official results were out, the March 14 coalition, named for the date of a protest that prompted the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, declared victory, prompting street celebrations among its supporters. Prospects for veto James Bays, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Beirut, said two areas needed to be examined by Lebanon's political parties in the wake of the result. "First, is the idea of a veto [over cabinet decisions] for Hezbollah and its allies if they were to join a new government of national unity," he said. "That [veto] has existed for the last year, since violent clashes in Beirut last year led to a unity deal between political parties in Doha [the Qatari capital]. "If Hezbollah joins a new unity government they would like that veto retained - but March 14 have said that the people have spoken ... and that they need to govern. The other issue is that of who will become prime minister in any new government, Bays said.

BEIRUT – A pro-Western coalition won Lebanon's parliamentary elections Monday, dealing a major setback to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and giving a boost to Barack Obama's Middle East peace policy. Coming just days after the American president reached out to the Muslim world, the vote undercuts the most militant force in Lebanese politics. It was the first major political test in the Middle East since Obama's groundbreaking address last week, in which he challenged the Islamic world to confront violent extremism and urged Israel and the Arabs to find common ground to establish peace.

Congratulations also came from the U.N. and Arab League chiefs and the leaders of France, Egypt and Jordan. Israel, which warned ahead of the elections that a Hezbollah victory could further destabilize the Middle East, appeared relieved. "There was an election in Lebanon and the moderate camp won. This is definitely a positive sign," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said. "But the real proof will be ... in the government's ability to enforce order and prevent Hezbollah from continuing military actions in southern Lebanon and throughout Lebanon."

Originally posted by mrmonsoon
Now that they were removed for the government, now the next move is to disarm and remove them.

The US should provide any and all "non-weapon" resources to aid Lebanon in this.

I mean satellite tracking.....

A big congrats to Lebanon for getting rid of terrorist's in their government, the same terrorists that stated two devastating wars with Israel.

Originally posted by mrmonsoon
They were removed, voted out because the people of Lebanon are sick of those terrorists causing wars and distroying their country.

There is no rigging as you claim, removing armed terrorists, or at least their arms is necessary for peace, clearly the people of Lebanon see what you don't or can't.

You are so painfully ignorant on the next point it hurts.

England gave the land to the UN.

The UN created modern Israel.
(read a history book dude, seriously)