(3 Sep 2000) English/Nat
XFA
The second and final round of elections is underway in Lebanon.
There are 65 parliamentary seats being contested in Beirut, in the Bekaa Valley and in Southern Lebanon.
Most likely to win seats in Beirut are Prime Minister Salim Hoss and former Prime Minister and self-made billionaire property tycoon, Rafik Hariri.
This is the first time since 1972 that people in the former Israeli occupied zone have been able to vote.
VOICE-OVER:
00:03 The elections in Lebanon were always sure to provoke strong emotions.
00:07 The upset scored last Sunday by candidates backed by Rafik Hariri against those supported by the government could well have an effect on who becomes the next Prime Minister.
00:17 Hariri is expected to contest the current Prime Minister Salim Hoss for the job.
00:22 Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hoss was casting his own vote.
00:26SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are having a democratic experiment this morning, a very fine process going on. We hope that the results will indeed reflect on the reality of the public opinion in Lebanon."
SUPERCAPTION: Prime Minister Salim Hoss
00:50 Under Lebanon's political system, the president selects the Prime Minister after polling legislators on their choice.
00:57 A change of Prime Minister is not expected to alter Lebanon's political landscape, however.
01:04 Both Hariri and Hoss are close to Syria, which has 30-thousand troops in Lebanon and dominates the country both militarily and politically.
01:14 The results so far have reflected public dissatisfaction with the government's policies.
01:19 SOUNDBITE (English)
"Governing the country will change - that's what we are aiming for. You know we want to strengthen the Democracy in the country and the free speeches and also we want to change the way the country is governed and the economic side."
SUPERCAPTION: Ex- Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
01:38 The new parliament, Prime Minister and cabinet will face the challenges of solving the economic crisis and of curbing corruption.
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