Northern Lebanon has begun voting in a tense final round of elections that will decide if the anti-Syrian opposition takes control of parliament.

Saad Hariri's anti-Syrian alliance faces a tough challenge from ex-General Michel Aoun, whose group made shock gains in an earlier round of voting.

Correspondents say Mr Hariri is set to fare well in Sunni Muslim areas with Mr Aoun likely to take the Christian vote.

Lebanon is holding its first vote since the Syrian troop withdrawal this year.

Damascus ended its forces' 30-year deployment in Lebanon in response to street protests and international pressure triggered by the assassination of Mr Hariri's father, the former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The former leader died in February in a bomb blast his supporters said was the work of Syria.

Syrian troops were stationed in Lebanon under the accord that ended a 15-year civil war in 1989.

Although Mr Aoun's forces fought against the Syrians in the civil war, his allies in the election include pro-Damascus politicians, such as former Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh.

His alliance did well in the third round of voting held in the Mount Lebanon and Bekaa valley regions, with the promise that it would tackle corruption and end sectarian policies.

Mr Hariri's group, which includes the Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and right-wing Christians, has so far secured 44 of the 100 seats already decided.

It must win 21 of the 28 seats in Sunday's vote if it is to have a majority in parliament.

The final days of campaigning has seen rival camps accusing each other of intimidation and of playing into Syrian hands.

"This is not only the last stage," Mr Hariri told supporters in the north. "For us and for you, it is the last chance to save and regain Lebanon and finally eliminate [Syrian] tutelage."

Emotional significance

Mr Aoun has meanwhile said he is the "first opponent of the Syrians" and will remain so.

His group needs to win a quarter of the 28 seats being contested in northern Lebanon in order to rob Mr Hariri's alliance of a parliamentary majority.

He told the Associated Press news agency he believes a compromise is likely.

"There won't be a complete winner and there won't be a complete loser," he said.

The Amal and Hezbollah parties that have a pro-Syrian agenda have so far won 35 seats.

The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says Sunday's vote will be emotionally - as well as politically - significant, as it takes place in the northern Lebanese region bordering Syria.

PHOTO CAPTION

Saad Hariri