Pro-West bloc beats Hezbollah in election

BEIRUT: A surprise election victory by an anti-Syrian coalition in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies set the stage yesterday for tough negotiations on forming a new government.

Results declared by Interior Minister Ziad Baroud showed Saad al-Hariri's pro-Western bloc had won 71 of parliament's 128 seats, against 57 for an opposition alliance that groups Shi'ite factions Hezbollah and Amal with Christian leader Michel Aoun.

Hariri's total includes three independents who ran on his lists in Sunday's election, which many had predicted would produce a slim victory for Hezbollah and its partners.