587 candidates in race for Lebanon parliament
Lebanon said on Thursday that 587 candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the June parliamentary election, which is seen as key to the future of the divided country.
Three Armenians have already been selected unopposed in seats in Beirut and the Christian stronghold of Metn east of the capital after rival candidates withdrew, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said at a press conference.
This gives two seats to the opposition, led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and one seat for the current Sunni-led ruling majority, ahead of the June 7 election for the 128-seat parliament.
The election pits the Hezbollah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, against the currrent parliamentary majority, backed by the United States and regional Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia.
Candidates can still withdraw before June 7 but their registration fee will not be reimbursed.