The Lebanese parliament has approved a new election law as part of a reconciliation process begun in May.
The new law, which alters the boundaries of voting districts, will be used as the basis for parliamentary elections next year.
It is an amended version of a 1960 law Nigerian faces death for 86 wives ...
UN Security Council condemns Lebanon blast ...
Israel and Hezbollah sign prisoner exchange deal ... under which voting is held in smaller districts known as cazas.
The new law also calls for Lebanese elections to be held on one day, rather than over several days.
Several proposed reforms were rejected, including a lowering of the voting age to 18 from 21, quotas for women in parliament, and allowing Lebanese citizens living abroad to vote.
However, reports say the new law gives expatriates the right to vote in elections in 2013.
Key demand
Adoption of the election law is the last element of the Qatari-mediated deal between rival pro- and anti-Syrian factions in Lebanon after prolonged wrangling brought the country to the brink of civil war.
Pro-Syrian group Hezbollah won two key demands in the Doha deal: power of veto in the new unity government and the electoral law change.
The powerful Shia Muslim group wanted the smaller-sized districts as it felt it was underrepresented under the previous system.
A first session of a national dialogue between the rival leaders was held earlier this month, with another scheduled for 5 November.
An aide to parliament speaker Nabih al-Berri said the bill was approved by parliament late on Monday.
(BBC)
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