Syria Claims Vote Fraud In Lebanon

By: George Baghdadi
Topics: World Watch

This story was filed by CBS News' George Baghdadi, reporting from Damascus, Syria.

(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A government-run Syrian newspaper on Monday accused the Western-backed political coalition which won this weekend's parliamentary elections in neighboring Lebanon of rigging the vote.

"Buying of votes, accusations of election manipulations, shootings in some areas... were reported in yesterday's election in Lebanon," said the al-Baath daily — a mouthpiece of the ruling al-Baath Party, in a front-page roundup on Lebanon's Sunday vote.

"The election atmosphere wasn't void of security difficulties, amid accusations against the pro-government forces that they bought votes, offered bribes and committed forgery... on a large scale," it added.

The article claimed that these "atmospheres were sources for questions and concerns until late last night."

The other two state-run dailies, Tishreen and al-Thawra, made no direct comment on the Lebanese elections, publishing news items on the election process.

Meanwhile, al-Watan (The Nation), a Syrian independent daily, said in its front-page report that "political money had a say" — an apparent accusation that the U.S.-backed "March 14 coalition" had bought votes.

The paper claimed the coalition, which controlled the parliament going into the hotly contested election, had "dedicated big amounts of money in its endeavor to buy votes and bring the Lebanese expatriates from the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Brazil and other countries into Lebanon to vote for their candidates."

Ahead of the vote, leaders in Israel and the West watched with anxiety as the political party/militant group Hezbollah seemed headed for victory in Lebanon — a situation which would have greatly complicated Washington's relationship with the country, as Hezbollah is labeled a terrorist group.

Most support of Hezbollah's support comes from Syria and Iran, but it is a potent political force in Lebanon — and will remain so despite their election loss on Sunday.

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by YrSoWrong June 9, 2009 11:32 PM EDT: One of the funnier statements in recent memory is "Syria Claims Vote Fraud". When's the last time someone of the Assad family wasn't running the show? When's the last time a Syrian leader didn't dream of a "Greater Syria" as it was 100 years ago? In those days, there was no Lebanon, no Palestine, no Jordan, no Israel, just Syrians controlling all of this territory. With enough of a police-state, they hope to make it that way again.; Reply to this comment


by Audacity_of_Deception June 8, 2009 9:19 PM EDT: ANd palestinians never existed before....they are simply part jordanians and part egyptians who are martyrs for a land they didnt even wanted before.
The saddest thing is that neither jordanians nor egyptians want them.
Posted by factsearcher

you are correct factsearcher. The term "Palestinian" is merely an invention of Arafat and the rest of Islamic jihad for political purposes, in order to continue their push to wipe out Israel and the Jewish people.; Reply to this comment


by YrSoWrong June 8, 2009 7:05 PM EDT: Reminds me of how many cbs bloggers would like to retire to a third world police state, or at least replicate that here.; Reply to this comment


by babooph June 8, 2009 6:49 PM EDT: Reminds me of the president of S. Nam-US told him to have an election & win by a small amount-he won by 98.8% so he was deposed asap !!!The scam was to let the other side think they had a chance.AHH democracy.; Reply to this comment


by labrat9999 June 8, 2009 6:14 PM EDT: Something is sort of funny here...in another article they said more than 3 million people voted...or 52% of the population...in this one they say "dedicated big amounts of money in its endeavor to buy votes and bring the Lebanese expatriates from the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Brazil and other countries into Lebanon to vote for their candidates." Boy oh boy to change the vote of 3 million or more people you would certainly have to bring one heck of alot of people into Lebonon to change that vote!! And all on one day! I would love to see that!; Reply to this comment


by factsearcher June 8, 2009 2:29 PM EDT: The Syrian government objects to the existence of Lebanon. That country, plus Palestine, plus Jordan, was part of Syria 100 years ago. Which is why Christian autonomy in Lebanon and Jewish autonomy is Israel is a problem, and why there's no such thing as a Palestinian nationality unless one is also created.
Posted by YrSoWrong
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ANd palestinians never existed before....they are simply part jordanians and part egyptians who are martyrs for a land they didnt even wanted before.
The saddest thing is that neither jordanians nor egyptians want them.; Reply to this comment


by YrSoWrong June 8, 2009 2:14 PM EDT: The Syrian government objects to the existence of Lebanon. That country, plus Palestine, plus Jordan, was part of Syria 100 years ago. Which is why Christian autonomy in Lebanon and Jewish autonomy is Israel is a problem, and why there's no such thing as a Palestinian nationality unless one is also created.; Reply to this comment


by factsearcher June 8, 2009 2:11 PM EDT: THe lesson was learned from the past elections in Gaza. Hamas was completely backed by Syria and Iran and they did all the dirty tricks in the book...
I guess the pro western in Lebanon beat them to it this time!; Reply to this comment


by comfortmd1 June 8, 2009 12:31 PM EDT: i spent the last three months hearing about how both sides were engaging in "legal" vote-buying. syria is just upset it couldn't gain control of a nation it lost when the lebanese shadow government was removed years ago; Reply to this comment


by 1notrub11 June 8, 2009 11:22 AM EDT: Hmmm, I wonder why the Syrians are interfering in Lebanese elections by such comments. I guess they are entitled to an opinion but it would seem more appropriate for the Lebanese press to raise such issues, as they are internal ones. When the loser cries foul, it is either because they were truly surprised by the outcome or, more probably, because they were beaten at their own game.

Can you guess? I have little sympathy.; Reply to this comment