Many voters returned to their hometowns in Mount Lebanon, the country's most populous province, and to the Bekaa Valley to cast their ballots in the third of four rounds of staggered parliamentary elections, the first free of the dominance of Syrian forces in nearly three decades.
Anti-Syrian forces need a strong showing in Sunday's vote -- at least 45 seats for a majority -- to win a firm grasp on the 128-member Parliament and wean it of Damascus' control. But the campaign has led to some surprising alliances and some races were too close to call.
Lines formed outside polling stations in Mount Lebanon, a mountain region surrounding Beirut and stretching north and south of the city.
Halfway through the voting, turnout topped 50 percent in some areas, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said.
Michel Aoun, who recently broke with other opponents of Damascus and forged alliances with pro-Syrian politicians to form an anti-corruption ticket, was among the first to vote. He arrived......
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