Syria's staunch allies, Hizbollah and Amal, have swept south Lebanon's general elections, in a crushing victory seen as a vote for anti-Israeli guerrillas.
Many in the Shi'ite Muslim heartland see a vote for Hizbollah as a vote for the group to retain its arms as a defence against neighbouring Israel, which occupied the south for 22 years until its 2000 pullout.
Official results are not due until Monday but Amal-Hizbollah claimed it had taken all 23 seats up for grabs in the south.
Unofficial counts indicated the alliance had won more than 80% of votes.
Hundreds of supporters waving Amal flags celebrated as results began to trickle in.
The four rounds of regional voting are the first in 30 years to be held without the presence of Syrian troops.
Voting will take place in the remainder of the country over the next two weeks. Central and eastern Lebanon will vote next weekend in what promises to be the most heated round of polling.
Last week, the son of assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri won the first round of elections in Beirut.
Saad al-Hariri's anti-Syrian bloc captured all 19 seats in the capital.
A wave of anti-Syrian protests occurred following the murder of Mr Hariri forcing Syria to withdraw its troops in April.
