Lebanon: 'Election camel' painted blue, outrage then apology ensue

Lebanon's prime minister has apologised after his party's supporters spray painted livestock animals during campaigning for the first national election in nine years.

Saad Hariri's Future Movement made the apology on Wednesday after images of party backers in Sidon painting a camel and sheep angered animal rights activists and social media users.

A statement from the Future Movement said "some enthusiastic citizens - acting on their own imperative - painted a camel and some sheep blue," the colour of the movement's flag.

"The Prime Minister's office thanks them for their passion but wishes that they express their love through other means that do not violate the principles of animal welfare," it added.

The apology came after local animal rights group Animals Lebanon condemned the incident.

"Sheep and camel were spray painted blue as an abusive and nonsensical show of political support," a statement released by the group said.

"It is absolutely absurd to be abusing a number of animals to show political support. Such actions are being rejected by society and the government."

The photos also angered many social media users.

On 6 May, voters will head to the polls for the long-delayed parliamentary election, the country's first in more than nine years.

The vote marks the end of a years-long political stalemate that had paralysed Lebanese government institutions.