VZCZCXRO2822
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #0631/01 1590859
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080859Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5062
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3371
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3883
RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000631 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA 
ALSO FOR IO A/S BRIMMER 
P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY 
PARIS FOR RWALLER 
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER 
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT 
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY/KAHL/DALTON 
DRL/NESA FOR WHITMAN 
OVP FOR HMUSTAFA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PRELIMINARY RESULTS SUGGEST MARCH 14 WINS 
71 OUT OF 128 SEATS 
 
REF: A. BEIRUT 630 
     ¶B. BEIRUT 629 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Preliminary, unofficial results from IFES, political 
party representatives, and media outlets indicate that Saad 
Hariri's March 14 coalition and pro-March 14 independents won 
the majority in the June 7 parliamentary elections with as 
many as 71 out of 128 seats.  From his Qoreitem residence, 
Hariri told supporters in the early hours of June 8 that June 
7 was "a big day in the history of democratic 
Lebanon...congratulations to you, congratulations to freedom, 
congratulations to democracy."  Representatives of the 
opposition conceded defeat without rancor but laid down 
markers about forming a "national unity" cabinet composed of 
both blocs.  A representative of opposition Christian leader 
Michel Aoun said "We accept the will of the people" but added 
that his party would work with March 14 "to form a government 
of national unity."  Hizballah MP Hassan Fadlallah called for 
a government of "national partnership."  As of 1000 hr 
(Beirut time) on June 8, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud had 
announced official results for 15 out of 26 electoral 
districts, and they track with what we heard from unofficial 
sources.  Baroud's announcements on the remaining districts 
are expected throughout the day.  End summary. 
 
OFFICIAL RESULTS FOR 15 OF 26 DISTRICTS 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) As of 1000 hr (local, Beirut time), Minister of 
Interior Ziad Baroud announced the following electoral 
results: 
 
- Aley: Winners: Akram Shehayyeb (March 14-Druze), Talal 
Arslan (March 8-Druze), Henri Helou (March 14-Maronite), 
Fouad Saad (March 14- Maronite), and Fadi Habr (March 
14-Greek Orthodox).  Voter turnout was 51 %. 
 
- Baalbeck Hermel: Winners: Ali Mokdad (Hizballah-Shia), 
Nawwar Sahili (Hizballah-Shia), Hussein Hajj Hassan 
(Hizballah-Shia), Hussein Musawi (Hizballah-Shia), Assem 
Qanso (March 8-Shia), Kamel Rifai (March 8-Sunni), Walid 
Sukkarieh (March 8-Sunni), Marwan Fares (March 8-Greek 
Catholic), and  Emile Rahme (March 8-Maronite).  Voter 
turnout was: 49%. 
 
- Bacharre: Winners: Setrida Towk Geagea (March 14-Maronite), 
Elie Keyrouz (March 14-Maronite).  Voter turnout was 37%. 
 
- Batroun: Winners: Boutros Harb (March 14-Maronite), Antoine 
Zahra (March 14-Maronite).  Voter turnout was: 56%. 
 
- Bint Jbeil: Winners: Hasan Fadlallah (Hizballah-Shia), Ali 
Bazzi (Amal-Shia), Ayoub Humayed (Amal-Shia).  Voter turnout 
was: 42 %. 
 
- Jbeil: Winners: Walid Khoury (March 8-Maronite), Simon Aib 
Rama (March 8-Maronite), Abbas Hashem (March 8-Shia).  Voter 
turnout was: 65%. 
 
- Jezzine: Winners: Ziad Aswad (March 8/Aoun-Maronite), 
Charles Isam Sawaya (March 8/Aoun-Greek Catholic), and Michel 
Helou (March 8/Aoun-Maronite).  Voter turnout was 53%. 
 
- Kesrwan: Winners: Michel Aoun (March 8/Aoun-Maronite), 
Farid El Khazen (March 8 independent-Maronite), Youssef 
Khalil (March 8 independent-Maronite), Nematallah Abi Nasr 
(March 8 independent-Maronite), Gilberte Zwein (March 8 
independent-Maronite).  Voter turnout was 70%. 
 
- Koura: Winners: Farid Mekkari (March 14-Greek Orthodox), 
Farid Habib (March 14-Greek Orthodox), Nicolas Ghosn (March 
14 independent-Greek Orthodox).  Voter turnout was 67%. 
 
BEIRUT 00000631  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
- Nabatieh: Winners: Mohammad Raad (Hizballah-Shia), Yassine 
Jaber (March 8 independent-Shia), and Abdellatif Al Zein 
(March 8 independent-Shia).  No announcement of voter turnout. 
 
- Sidon (Saida): Winners: Bahia Hariri (March 14-Sunni), 
Fouad Siniora (March 14-Sunni).  Voter turnout was 68%. 
 
- Tyre (Sur): Winners: Mohammad Fneish (Hizballah-Shia), 
Nawaf Musawi (Hizballah-Shia), Ali Khreiss (Amal-Shia), Abdel 
Majid Saleh (Amal-Shia).  Voter turnout was 48%. 
 
- West Bekaa-Rachaya: Ziad Kadri (March 14-Sunni), Jamal 
Jarrah (March 14-Sunni), Amine Wehbe (March 14-Shia), Wael 
Abou Faour (March 14-Druze), Robert Ghanem (March 
14-Maronite), and Anotine Saad (March 14-Greek Orthodox).  No 
announcement of voter turnout. 
 
- Zahrani: Winners: Michel Moussa (March 8 independent-Greek 
Catholic), Nabih Berri (Amal-Shia), Ali Osseiran (Amal-Shia). 
 Voter turnout was 40%. 
 
- Zgharta: Winners: Suleiman Franjieh (March 8-Maronite), 
Estephan Douaihy (March 8-Maronite), Salim Karam (March 
8-Maronite).  Voter turnout was 48%. 
SISON