Lebanon's Western--backed alliance won about 70 out of 128 seats, maintaining its majority in parliament after defeating the Hizbullah-led opposition in Sunday's key elections. PM Fuoad Saniora commented: "What happened today is a victory for the logic of the state."

The opposition confirmed defeat. MP Hassan Fadlallah from Hizbullah reiterated the Shiite party's calls for "national partnership". According to AFP, he added that overall, Hizbullah and its allies had won 21 seats in districts in southern Lebanon and 10 seats in the eastern Baalbek region.