Hezbollah, allies eye gains in Lebanon vote

The Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies expect to emerge stronger from a parliamentary election on Sunday, a result that would affirm Iran's regional ascendancy from Tehran to Beirut.

The group, classified by the US as a terrorist organisation, is backing a former spymaster and friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was once one of Lebanon's most powerful men, to suceed Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

Jamil al-Sayyed rose to become Lebanon's feared intelligence chief during Syria's 15-year domination of the country after its 1975-90 civil war. He quit in 2005, weeks after Hariri's father and former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri was assassinated. He spent the next four years in jail until he was released without charge over the killing.

Now 68, the retired general is running in the first parliamentary election since 2009.