The struggle between the pro-U.S. government and mainly Shiite opposition in Lebanon deepened after a parliamentary election showed a divide among Christians, a key swing bloc.

That deadlock was reinforced when pro-government candidate Amin Gemayel, a former president and the head of one of Lebanon's most powerful Maronite Christian families, conceded defeat Aug. 6 by 418 votes in an Aug. 5 election in the Christian stronghold of Metn, north of Beirut.

The victor was little-known Kamil Khoury, who was backed by the most prominent Christian leader in the pro-Syrian opposition, Michel Aoun.

Sunnis are the base for the ruling coalition, which opposes Syrian influence. Shiite Muslims, led by Hezbollah, back the pro-Syrian opposition. Neither side has been able to decisively lure the Christians, around a third of Lebanon's 4 million people, to their camp.

Many fear the deepening stalemate may lead to the formation of competing governments, if it is not resolved before the race to replace pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, whose term ends Nov. 23.

Under Lebanon's division of power among its sects, the presidency must be held by a Maronite Christian chosen by Parliament. Now, no Maronite leader can boost his bid among lawmakers by claiming to represent the entire community.

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's backers are hoping to put in place an anti-Syrian figure in the presidency to strengthen their power. They rose to control the government after Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon in 2005, ending Damascus' decades-long control of the country.