BEIRUT: Interior Minister Marwan Charbel announced Monday the official results of municipal by-elections that took place in a number of towns and villages across the country Sunday.

At a news conference at the Interior Ministry, Charbel said the polls indicated that the Lebanese favor democracy. Results in the Akkar town of Qobeiyat showed the list headed by Abdo Makhoul Abdo which was backed by the Kataeb, Free Patriotic Movement and former MP Mikhail Daher, won against a rival ticket supported by March 14.

Also in Akkar, nine candidates from the March 14-backed list won in Bireh’s by-election, while the remaining six seats were snatched by the rival list, which was supported by the March 8 coalition.

In the Jezzine village of Kfar Houne, the list supported by Hezbollah and some local families defeated a rival list backed by Amal, the FPM and rival local families. In the Aley town of Kahaleh, George Tawfiq Bejjani and 11 members of his list won the bulk of the municipal council seats while the three remaining seats were won by the rival list.