8 Jun 2009

Hizbollah and allies beaten in election

11:01 am on 8 June 2009

An anti-Syrian coalition has defeated Hizbollah and its allies in a parliamentary election in Lebanon.

No official results have been announced, but both sides have acknowledged the result.

The coalition expects to win at least 68 seats in the 128-member assembly.

However, analysts say the likeliest outcome of the poll is another "national unity" government.

Polls closed at 7pm (1600 GMT) on Sunday. Final results are expected to be known on Monday.

Hizbollah has ties with Syria, which dominated Lebanon for three decades until 2005.

The organisation is listed as a terrorist group by the United States.