Voters went to the polls in Beirut and southern Lebanon today in the latest stage the country's first local elections for more than thirty years.

The Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, called on voters to put the civil war behind them and show that Beirut was the capital of co-exixtence between Muslims and Christians.

Reports say that the turnout in the capital was about thirty-five per cent, but was higher in the south.

The final phase of the elections will be held next week in the Bekaa Valley.