Opposition split on Lebanon poll

Some opposition members have put aside old enmities

Lebanon's leading Christian opposition figure says he will head his own election list after failing to agree on a broad opposition alliance.

Michel Aoun said talks had broken down with other opposition leaders, opening the first major split in Lebanon's anti-Syrian camp.

"We have not reached an agreement so we are heading for a confrontation," the ex-prime minister and army leader said.

Mr Aoun recently returned from 14 years in exile. Polling starts on 29 May.

The Lebanese people will be the judge and with this the people will be able to exercise their rights in full Michel Aoun

The multi-phase election is the first since the killing of former prime minister Rafik Hariri - who joined the anti-Syrian camp shortly before his death - and the subsequent pull-out of thousands of Syrian troops under massive internal and international pressure.

Correspondents say Mr Aoun's opponents resent his grandeur and populism, and fear his hardline Christian politics could destabilise Lebanon's delicate confessional balance.

Cracked unity

Mr Aoun's says his candidates will compete against other Maronite Christians, Druze and Muslim opponents in the Mount Lebanon constituency.

Aoun returned pledging to overturn sectarian politics

He and his supporters held marathon talks into the early hours of Tuesday with representatives of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and Hariri's son and political heir Saad.

Until now members of the three communities have campaigned together as a united opposition united in anger at Hariri's assassination in February.

"The Lebanese people will be the judge and with this the people will be able to exercise their rights in full," Mr Aoun said.

Polling over four consecutive Sundays will choose the 128 members of the parliament, with seats allocated to equal numbers of Christians and Muslims.

Reports say the opposition talks broke down over Mr Aoun's insistence on selecting candidates for non-Maronite seats in the Aley-Baabda district.