Police circled off the scene and set up checkpoints in the area.

In another incident, Hizbollah motorcyclists, celebrating their victory in south Lebanon's elections, clashed with residents of Beirut's Christian residential neighborhood of Ashrafiyeh, leaving one man injured and a motorcycle burnt.

According to An-Nahar neswspaper, about 40 Hizbollah motorcyclists crisscrossed Ashrafiyeh's Sassin Square, waiving Hizbollah and Amal banners to celebrate the victory of Hizbollah and Amal coalition.

"This sparked a shouting match that developed into a battle with sticks with Ashrafiyeh's young men. One man was injured and a motorcycle burnt before army troops raced in to disengage the combatants," An-Nahar said.

This Ashrafiyeh incident reflects badly on the image of Hizbollah, which claims to be a very disciplined organization. What will add more "salt to injury", is the fact that this is the only organization in Lebanon, allowed to keep its arms. No doubt, the question of disarming Hizbollah will now be a major issue as soon as the elections are over.

Phase 3 of the elections will be held in Mount Lebanon and the Bekaa on June 12. The elections in northern Lebanon on June 19 will be the final phase. Both phases will represent a major battle for General Aoun and the opposition. So far Aoun did not win any single seat in the new parliament.

Geneal Aoun's FPM is in a coalition with Syria's ally, Talal Arslan's Lebanese Democratic Party in the Baabda - Aley district of Mt. Lebanon, which is described by the local media as "the mother of all battles". In the north of Lebanon, Aoun is aligned with another Syrian ally, Suleiman Franjieh, Grandson of Suleiman Franjieh, who was the Lebanese president when Syria invaded Lebanon in 1976. In Zahleh District of Bekaa region, Aoun is allied with MP Elie Skaff.

Hariri, who won all the 19 seats of Beirut region, is allied with Walid Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party, Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces, and all groups of the Qornet Shahwan coalition, which has Patriarch Sfeir's seal of approval.

Hariri had lunch with Tayyar Al Mustaqbal's MP Ahmed Fatfat at his Seir el Dinnyeh house on Tuesday and then drove to Akkar to announce the Hariri election list for northern Lebanon's District number one, in a coalition with Samir Geagea's Lebanese forces. The list includes Geagea's wife, Sitrida.

The Election battles in Mount Lebanon are hot. No one seems to be able to predict the results. General Aoun is trying very hard to show the Christian community, that he could lead, but until now he has no record to prove that he can, since he never ran in any elections. Many see him as an army General in civilian clothes. He failed in all his negotiations with the anti-Syrian opposition, which forced him to ally with Syrian loyalists that he extensively criticized when he was exiled in France.

Aoun desperately needs to win his own seat at least, in the Kesrwan - Jbeil district. If he doesn't, his future as a politician in Lebanon will be written off. If he does, he will need to ally himself again with the anti-Syrian opposition, since, according to local observers, they are expected to win between 80 and 90 seats in the 128 member parliament. With Sunday quickly approaching, it won't be long before we know!

Sources: Ya Libnan, Al Nahar, Al safir , VOL