BEIRUT - Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Thursday signed a decree to hold legislative elections from this month based on an electoral law tailored by Syria which the opposition says is unfavourable to Christians. Elections will be held in four rounds starting May 29 based on a 2000 law which the Lebanese opposition claims favours pro-Syrian loyalists because it was passed when Syria dominated Lebanon.Lahoud's decree crushed efforts by the opposition to hold an 11th hour parliamentary session to adopt a new law that would give the minority Christians greater representation. The 2000 law which prevailed during Lebanon's last legislative elections carves up Lebanon into 14 electoral constituencies. The opposition was hoping to reintroduce a law dating from 1960 which divides the country into smaller constituencies, to bolster Christians and other minorities.
Voting in Beirut will be held on May 29, southern Lebanon on June 5, Mount Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley June 12 and northern Lebanon on June 19.