In the last Lebanese elections, which ended in 06/2005, the anti SYRIAN block, called the “March 14 Coalition” gained 67 seats while the pro SYRIAN opposition only 61 seats.

After few “mysterious” assassinations and the by-election of 08/05/2007 the political balance in the Lebanese parliament between pro and anti SYRIAN blocks was reduced to only 65 seats versus the pro SYRIAN opposition with 63 seats. ( See - SYRIAN WINS )  

On 09/25/2007 the Lebanese parliament is scheduled to elect a new president for the next 6 years. The pro SYRIAN president ÉEmile Lahoud is supposed to be replaced. The main problem is that the anti-SYRIAN “March 14 Coalition” cannot rely on its narrow majority as political assassinations, alongside bribery, were always very effective in changing the course of the Lebanese politics. ( see – LEBANESE crisis )

Indeed, today 09/19/2007, the anti SYRIAN politician Antoine Ghanim, a member of the Maronite Phalange Party, was killed two days after he returned to Lebanon epecially for the expected presidential election.  At least five others died when his car exploded in the eastern Beirut Sin al-Fil district.  As it was feared by many in Lebanon the assassination caused a real deadlock in the Lebanese parliament with 64 seats for the “March 14 Coalition” versus the pro SYRIAN opposition with 63 seats.

The assassination of Antoine Ghanim is also a serious blow to USA policy in Lebanon and in the Middle East and occurred amide the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the region, in fact during here meetings with Israeli cabinet members, as part of the Washington ‘peace’ summit preparations, scheduled to 11/2007.   

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