Lebanese elections: Key players

The March 8 alliance:

Hassan Nasrallah
Head of the Hezbollah political movement and resistance organisation that is backed by Iran and Syria. Enjoys wide support among Lebanese Shiites and the Arab public for strong stand against Israel. Hezbollah's status as the only armed non-state group is a contentious issue.

Nabih Berri
Speaker of the Lebanese parliament since 1992, he holds the top position of power for a Shiite in Lebanon's power-sharing political system. Is also the head of the Shiite Amal party and is considered a friend of Syria.

Michel Aoun
Former army chief and head of the mostly Maronite Christian Free Patriotic Movement. Led a rebellion against Syria in 1989 and was forced to flee the country, but has moved to the pro-Syria block since the country's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005.

The March 14 alliance:

Sa'ad Hariri
Leader of the parliamentary majority and the Future movement, the billionaire businessman is the political heir of slain former prime minister Rafik Hariri and the most influential Sunni leader in Lebanon.

Walid Junblatt
Influential Druze leader and head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Junblatt was formerly a supporter of Syria but changed sides after the death of former Syrian president Hafez Al Assad. He comes from an influential political family.

Samir Geagea
Maronite Christian leader of the right-wing Lebanese Forces party, he rejoined politics after serving eleven years in jail for political killings committed during the Lebanese Civil War, including the assassination of prime minister Rashid Karami.

Key issues

--Hezbollah's alleged involvement in Rafik Hariri's assassination: According to a report by German magazine Der Spiegel, Hezbollah was involved in the assassination. The group says the allegations are timed to influence the elections.

--Hezbollah's weapons: The March 14 alliance continues to criticise Hezbollah's hold on its arms, saying it infringes the sovereignty of the republic, and could be used against Hezbollah's opponents inside Lebanon. March 14 also worries that Hezbollah will drag the country into another war with Israel.

--Israeli spy networks: The uncovering of a number of Israeli spy networks with the alleged assistance of Hezbollah has shored up the credibility of Lebanese intelligence. The uncovering of figures close to the March 14 alliance has been controversial, but observers point out that betrayers came from across the sectarian makeup of the country.
Israeli civil defence drives: Israeli drills have prompted Hezbollah to say that Israel is preparing for war, and hence is a continuing threat to Lebanon.