(26 Aug 2000) Arabic/Nat
XFA
Lebanon is gearing up for parliamentary elections which begin on Sunday, only months after Israeli troops withdrew from a border strip inside southern Lebanon.
For the first time Lebanese people inside the strip can vote.
This time the election is centering around the state of the economy rather than the influence Syria and its 30,000 troops stationed in Lebanon - have in the country.
Lebanon's parliamentary campaign has been short on issues and has done nothing to shake Syria's grip on the country.
But it has not been without drama.
As is typical of Lebanese elections held since the end of a 15-year civil war in 1990, there have been calls for a boycott, violence and charges of government meddling and vote-buying.
In the Mount Lebanon region in the north of the country, security forces have turned out in force to try to make sure polling goes smoothly and to help counter claims of irregularities at the ballot box.
What makes the balloting this Sunday and next (September 3) different, is that for the first time in nearly three decades, residents of the former Israeli-occupied border zone in southern Lebanon get a chance to cast their ballots.
Israeli troops vacated in May after more than 20 years spent occupying the border strip in an attempt - so they said - to prevent Israel from being attacked.
Nearly 600 candidates are running for 128 seats in the legislature and some two and three quarter million Lebanese are eligible to vote for them.
The government has promised fair balloting but complaints are coming from all sides.
The Shiite Muslim Hezbollah, which is popular for its successful guerrilla war against Israel, has complained that votes are being bought.
Hezbollah chief Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said some candidates are offering 100 to 200 dollars a vote, and an even higher price on election day.
Four years ago Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam was said to have been closely involved in drawing up electoral lists, and Lebanese officials and candidates travelled to Damascus to seek Syrian blessing.
But since Syrian President Bashar Assad came to power earlier this year, such open intervention has subsided.
With Israeli troops out of Lebanon and the Syrian factor a non-issue - no candidate is even mentioning the 30,000 Syrian troops posted in Lebanon.
Candidates are aware of the allegations of corruption but are sticking to their campaigns.
SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"In the elections we go through accusations and hardships and sometimes collaborations, but the important thing is not to change - that is the important thing. Of course, it is an experience for me, a very important experience. The important thing is for the candidate to remain strong and not to change."
SUPER CAPTION: Najib Mikati, parliamentary candidate
For the voters the economy is uppermost in their minds.
Despite Lebanon's violent past, trouble has been limited in the run-up to the election.
Hezbollah and Amal guerrillas have turned against each other, killing two people, despite their election alliance.
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