Candidate registration for Lebanon's parliamentary elections closes

BEIRUT, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Applications submission for Lebanon's upcoming legislative elections slated for May 6, has been closed at midnight on Tuesday, the Interior Ministry said.

Faten Younis, head of political and refugee affairs at the Interior Ministry, announced that 976 candidates have registered for the elections including 111 women.

The number has increased from 702 applicants for the 2009 elections that included only 12 female candidates.

Speaking at a news conference, Younis said that the largest number of candidates registered was at the Beirut II district, with 117 candidates.

According to the new proportional electoral law, there are 11 seats for Beirut II.

The last day for withdrawing candidacies is midnight of March 21.