Lebanese Cabinet approves election law

The Lebanese Cabinet on Thursday approved the parliamentary election law with its 14 districts and the establishment of the economic-social council.

On Thursday, the Lebanese Cabinet held its weekly session under the chairmanship of President Emile Lahoud and approved the draft election law (as completed by the ministerial committee chaired by Interior Minister Michel Murr). The Cabinet approved the adoption of the 14 districts, noting the protest expressed by Prime Minister al-Hoss over dividing Beirut into three districts.

The 14 circles are:

Beirut: three districts, the first includes the suburbs of al-Ashrafeyah, al-Mazraa and al-Seifi, the second includes the suburbs of al-Msetbeh, al-Bashoura and al-Rameel and the third includes Daar al-Mresei, Raas Beirut, Ziqaq al-Bilat, al-Mosouwar, the port and al-Hosn port.

Mount Lebanon: four districts. The first includes Jbeil and Keserwan areas, the second has al-Matin, the third has Baabda and Aley and the fourth al-Shouf.

The North: two districts. The first includes the suburbs of Akkar, al-Dinyeh and Besherri, the second has Tripoli, al-Menya, Zgharta, al-Patroun and al-Koura.

The south: two districts, the first includes the suburbs of Sidon, the villages of Sidon and Tyre and Bin Jbeil and the second includes Marjyoun, Hasbaya, al-Nabatiyah and Jezzine.

The Bekaa: three districts. The first includes Baalbeck and al-Hermel districts, the second includes Zahleh and the third includes the Western Bekaa and Rashaya.