BBC NEWS | Middle East | Lebanon opposition wins assembly

Lebanon's anti-Syrian opposition bloc has won all 28 seats in the final voting round, clinching a majority in parliament, official results show.

It's good to be wrong about events like this. Pro-democracy and anti-Syrian opponents refused to roll over and play dead:

The victory of the alliance led by Saad Hariri was confirmed by Interior Minister Hassan Sabeh.

The opposition will now have 72 seats in the 128-seat legislative body.

The election - held in four stages - was the first since Syrian troops pulled out of the country in April after 29 years.

The BBC's Jim Muir in Lebanon says the opposition's victory will allow it to push ahead more easily with dismantling what it calls the security state set up by the Syrians.

It's excellent news for the Lebanese. It's great news for the Christians. It's superb news for those that hope to see democracy prosper in the Middle East. I wouldn't be surprised if this has more ripple effects in the Arab dictatorships. Wonder what the student response in Iran will be once they get this news.

Hope abounds!