Interior Minister Michel Murr, who won his seat, called the elections a victory for Lebanon.
In the central Mount Lebanon region, the opposition led by the Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, won 22 of the region's 35 seats, with the remaining 13 going to government candidates.
In the north, 16 of the 28 seats went to candidates considered to be opposed to the government.
Many of the successful opposition candidates are allied to former prime minister Rafik Hariri, a billionaire businessman, who is waging an undeclared battle for the premiership with Prime Minister Salim Hoss.
Prominent opposition winners were Mr Jumblatt, Pierre Gemayel, son of former President Amin Gemayel, and Nassib Lahoud, a dissident cousin of President Emile Lahoud.
Among pro-Syrian winners who lost the elections were former Christian warlord Elie Hobeika and Zahir al-Khatib.
Interior Minister Michel Murr, who won his seat, called the elections a victory for Lebanon.
"The biggest victor is the Lebanese state and authorities who have demonstrated their impartiality in these elections," he told the French news agency, AFP.
The Interior Ministry said initial estimates put the turnout at just over 50% of the 1.3 million voters.
The second part of the voting takes place on Sunday in Beirut, the south and the Bekaa valley for the remaining 65 seats.
Lebanon's parliament of 128 seats is divided equally between Moslems and Christians.
The elections are being held just months after Israel ended its 22-year occupation of south Lebanon.
Correspondents say that the election is not likely to result in a major change of political direction in Lebanon, as both Mr Hoss and Mr Hariri are close to Syria.
Syria has 30,000 troops in Lebanon, and dominates the country politically and militarily.