Voters flocked to the polls in northern Lebanon yesterday in the final phase of the country's election, with a Muslim-led anti-Syrian coalition seeking to clinch a clear majority in the next parliament.

The ballot, staggered by region over four weekends, is the first in Lebanon with no Syrian military presence in three decades after Damascus pulled its troops out in April.

The northern Lebanon vote, in which more than 100 candidates are fighting for the remaining 28 parliamentary seats, will decide whether the 128-seat assembly has an anti-Syrian majority or the first time since the 1975-1990 civil war.