Official results confirmed Monday that Saad the son of ex-Premier, Rafik Hariri, scored a victory in the first round of Lebanon's elections, garabing all 19 Beirut seats. "This is a vote for Rafik Hariri against his assassins. It is a climax of the Muslim Christian national unity that his blood has welded together in the March 14 revolt that led to a democratic Lebanon free from external tutelage," Saad said in a victory speech to thousands of jubilant supporters overnight.
He said the Beirut victory would be repeated in Mt. Lebanon, Northern Lebanon and the Bekaa in the three upcoming rounds of the 4-stage elections.
Lebanon's Interior Minister Hassan Al Sabaa on Monday confirmed the final and official results of the polls. All in all, Saad Harir gained 39,499 votes, Ammar Houri, 30,741 and Gebran Tueni (An Nahar's daily General Manager), 30,519.
