LF says Bekaa clashes caused by Hizbullah 'excess of power'

The Lebanese Forces slammed Sunday a statement by Hizbullah in which it distanced itself from several elections-related clashes in the Bekaa region.

"Their statement is denying proven facts that were captured on TVs and that people witnessed," the LF statement said.

The statement went on to deny that LF members had assaulted delegates and voters from the Hope and Loyalty list in a bid to prevent them from entering polling stations.

The LF claimed that a member of Hizbullah tried to enter the polling station with his arm and he reacted as the security forces prohibited him from entering the station.

"The reason of the dispute is the excess of power that Hizbullah is practicing in all the districts where the party prevails," the statement said.

The statement considered that the elections presented "a white image" in most Lebanese districts and a dark image in the districts dominated by Hizbullah.

LF chief Samir Geagea had said earlier today that delegates of the LF-backed list had been expelled from the towns of Riha and Knaissein in the Baalbek-Hermel region.

The Bekaa region had witnessed several elections-related attacks and shootings in recent weeks that were targeted against LF-allied candidates. Many candidates had also announced their withdrawal from the LF-backed list.