Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), The fourth and final round of municipal and Mukhtar elections began Sunday in northern Lebanon and Akkar amid reports that the turnout has been massive since polling stations opened at 7:00am Beirut time (0400GMT). Security has been boosted particularly in Zghorta and Koura following the double crime in Dahr El-Ain (Koura district) Saturday that claimed the lives of two supporters of former Minster and Marada Party leader Sleiman Franjieh. The victims were identified as brothers Nayef and Tony Saleh and the killer was named as Lebanese Forces (headed by Samir Geagea) member Hanna Bersawi. In a press conference following the crime, Franjieh described slammed Geagea as a ‘criminal’ and said that those who are supporting him’ like PM Saad Hariri are encouraging his criminal scheme.’
As he toured the north, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud described the Dahr al-Ain crime as "unfortunate", stressing, "It is not related, directly or indirectly, to the municipal elections." The minister added that the repercussions were carefully scrutinized by the Central Security Council, which, he stressed, took the necessary measures to prevent similar incidents. Baroud added that elections in the town of Baz’oun (Bcharri district) were postponed due to candidates’ withdrawal. Baz’oun is the hometown of the two victims brothers Nayef and Tony Saleh. Competition in districts is expected to be heated especially in Betroun where General Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement is supporting the candidates for municipal election headed by Mercelio El-Herk facing candidates headed by former MP Sayed Akl and supported by the Lebanese Forces and the Phalanges Party. In Tripoli, agreement among different parties resulted in a state of relief and the turnout has been fair since the opening of polling stations. There are 735,782 eligible voters in the north and Akkar according to the Intrerior Ministery. They will elect 212 from 238 municipal councils after 26 councils won uncontested. 498 from 646 mukhtars will be also elected after 143 mukhtars won uncontested.
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