Tight security for Sunday's polls

Beirut: More than 50,000 soldiers and police personnel have been deployed to man roads and voting stations as Lebanon goes to the polls on Sunday in what is seen as the most important elections ever, with potentially significant impact on regional politics.

The elections are expected to be tight and could lead to clashes in some areas where the race is close. "Some 55,000 army and security personnel are being deployed to man the roads, especially in areas where we expect some trouble," Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ziad Baroud told a press conference on Saturday.

The elections pits a pro-Western alliance, the ruling March 14 coalition, led by billionaire Saad Hariri's Future Movement, also backed by Saudi Arabia, against the opposition-an odd alliance between the Shiite armed group Hezbollah, backed by Syria, and the largest Christian party, Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM).

Temper is running high and the roads in Beirut were unusually deserted on a Saturday evening. At least half the city residents have left it to vote in their hometowns across Lebanon.

Trucks and motorcycles have been ordered off the roads until Monday evening. Public and private institutions and schools will remain closed until Tuesday.

Baroud said he expected the official results will be announced by Monday afternoon.

The election is being described as "a turning point" in Lebanon's history. The Maronite church and the March 14 on Saturday warned of "grave consequences" if the Hezbollah-dominated opposition wins, as the latest polls said.

"It is a crucial election, which can threaten the very essence of Lebanon if we allow some forces to have it their way," the highest Christian religious authority, Maronite Cardinal Nasrallah Sfier, said on Saturday in a message to the people. It is widely assumed that the Christian vote will be the deciding factor in the elections. Muslim voters, analysts here say, have made up their mind weeks ago.

Aoun said on Friday night that his party will comfortably win 35 seats, out of the total 128 parliamentary seats. This means the opposition will form the next government.

But the Future Movement, led by Hariri and the current ruling majority's largest party, said March 14 was set to win "with a margin of at least 5 to 6 seats."

"We will win another majority, led by Saad Hariri," a senior Hariri aide told Gulf News in an interview. He said it was possible the billionaire politician, son of the assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, could become the next prime minister.

The opposition, which until few days ago was certain of ousting the March 14 government, have accused President Michel Sulaiman, the Maronite church and the US embassy of interfering in the elections to secure a March 14 victory.

"It is naive to think that the outcome of the elections will not affect US policy in Lebanon," US Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffery Feltman was quoted here on Saturday as saying.

"The outcome will naturally affect world's stance towards the new Lebanese government and the manner in which the United States and the Congress deal with Lebanon," he told Beirut's daily An Nahar.