LEBANON: HIZBOLLAH ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF VOTE-RIGGING AFTER FIRST ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.

Record ID: 328587

  • Title: LEBANON: HIZBOLLAH ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF VOTE-RIGGING AFTER FIRST ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.
  • Date: 28th August 1996
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (AUGUST 28, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: HUNDREDS OF HIZBOLLAH SUPPORTERS GATHERING AT A RALLY IN BEER HASSAN AREA, IN THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF BEIRUT. 0.07 2. MV: HIZBOLLAH'S SECRETARY GENERAL SHEIKH HASSAN NASRALLAH SHAKING HANDS WITH ANOTHER SHEIKH. 0.17 3. CU: HIZBOLLAH SLOGAN USED IN THE ELECTIONS CAM
  • Embargoed: 12th September 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • City:
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA2AD7DKRSO4WRKZI6014AZC6F9
  • Story Text: INTRO: Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hizbollah group has charged the Lebanese government with widespread vote-rigging and electoral abuses during the first round of parliamentary elections.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hizbollah's secretary general Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said in an election rally held in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Wednesday (August 28), that the government and its allies were cooperating to oust Hizbollah from parliament.

    He said the occupied zone in south Lebanon was Hizbollah's responsibility and that the resistance would continue.

    Nasrallah claimed Israel had breached the Israeli-Hizbollah ceasefire made in April at least 20 times and he said Lebanon would only be liberated "by spilling Zionist Israeli blood every day".

    Hizbollah's solitary candidate in the opening round in Mount Lebanon, parliament deputy Ali Ammar, failed to win re-election on August 18th.

    The Druze leader, Walid Jumblat, a close ally of Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri who dislikes Hizbollah, broke his alliance with the pro-Iranian group on the eve of the polling.

    Hizbollah has also failed to reach an election pact with Shiite House Speaker Nabih Berri's and his Amal movement in south Lebanon and the Bekaa valley.

    Local newspapers have expressed concern that violence could erupt, particularly in the south if Hizbollah and Amal fight it out at the polls in the present elections.

    Hizbollah plans to run against the government in the remaining three rounds of voting in Beirut, south Lebanon and the Bekaa valley that will take place over the next three Sundays.


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