BEIRUT - Lebanon's last round of parliamentary elections takes place tomorrow with the stage set for another fierce competition between the country's opposition alliance and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun. There are 28 seats up for grabs in North Lebanon and Sunday's vote will be decisive for the main opposition bloc's ambition to win control of Parliament.

In the first three rounds, it won 46 seats against 21 seats for Aoun's party, with another 33 won by the alliance of Shiite parties Hizbullah and Amal.

Leading opposition MP Saad Hariri, the son of assassinated former Premier Rafik Hariri, has been staying in the North for the last week in order to boost support for his broad based alliance, was yesterday accused by political rival Aoun, of "vote-buying."

The FPM leader said: "During the election, those people have been buying consciences. How can I say that someone who is corrupting consciences, who is violating them with money, is going to fight corruption when he is the corrupter-in-chief?"

Hariri held a huge electoral rally in Akkar, calling for supporters to vote in force.

He said: "Don't waste the sacrifices Rafik Hariri made. Please, go vote for the political line Hariri believed in and for the continuation of Hariri's dream, which started in Beirut. Vote for the unity of Lebanon."

Hariri pointedly did not meet with religious leaders during his tour of the North because, in his words, he wanted to "stress the non-sectarian character" of his party.

He said: "The Future Movement respects religious leaders, and will not allow anyone to criticize them as they are the pillars of society and are there for everyone in time of need."

Aoun, who has formed an unlikely alliance with pro-Syrian politicians despite being driven by Damascus into 15 years of exile in France, also rejected charges by the opposition that

Syrian intelligence officers had remained in Lebanon after April's troop pullout and were interfering in elections.

He said: "The Syrian presence is a rumor."

Aoun said Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa, who has said Syrian agents were intimidating voters, ought to step down for failing in his duty to ensure a free and fair electoral process.

He added: "The interior minister pretends some Syrian officers are interfering in the elections. He has to resign because his duty is to arrest them and send them to trial."

Zghorta MP and former pro-Syrian minister, Suleiman Franjieh, who is running on Aoun's list, insisted the alliance will keep the North united and will address "long-standing social issues."

He added: "The North is standing as one, despite attempts to divide it, and hopefully we will reflect this unity in Parliament."

And with all the electoral heat going on in the North, Aoun held a surprising meeting with former Prime Minister Salim Hoss, with whom he collided with the over Lebanon's premiership in 1989.

Following the meeting, which was also attended by former MP Najah Wakim, Hoss said he was impressed with Aoun's political agenda.

Hoss said: "I admire the national, non-sectarian stance that General Aoun is adopting, and support his calls to fight corruption."

Aoun said Lebanon was passing through a crucial stage where new alliances built on national unity are forming. - Daily Star