Syrian-backed opposition claims victory in Lebanon poll

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BEIRUT, Aug 6 (AFP): Lebanon's Western-backed ruling majority was dealt a blow Monday in by-elections that deeply split the country's Christian camp and boosted the Syrian-backed opposition ahead of a presidential poll.
Official results showed the candidate representing opposition leader Michel Aoun winning by a slim margin of 418 votes over former president Amin Gemayel, who was backed by the ruling Western-backed coalition.
The outcome of the vote was important as it was expected to show which way the country's divided Christian community was leaning ahead of a presidential election scheduled for next month. Lebanon's president is traditionally a Maronite Christian who is chosen by parliament.
The by-elections Sunday were to replace two murdered anti-Syrian MPs, the latest in a spate of politically linked killings that have rocked the country since the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
Gemayel was vying to replace his son Pierre, a Christian cabinet member and lawmaker who was shot dead last November. In Beirut, the vote was to replace Walid Eido, a Sunni Muslim lawmaker who was killed in a car bomb in June.
The vote to replace Eido was easily won by pro-government candidate Mohamad Amin Itani.