Army deploys in northern Lebanon after new sectarian violence

Jul 27, 2008, 18:20 GMT

Beirut - Lebanese tanks were out in force Sunday on the streets of the northern port city of Tripoli, after two days of sectarian fighting that left at least nine people dead, security official said.

Militants from rival communities of Sunni Muslims and the Shi'ite Alawite sect battled with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons through the night, but by Sunday evening the tensions had eased off, a Lebanese army source said.

Lebanese security sources in Tripoli said that at least six people were killed in the fighting Friday and another three Saturday. More than 72 were wounded. They included at least three gunmen, two of them Sunnis and one Alawite, but also many civilian residents, including a five-year-old Sunni boy and his father.

The clashes centered in two neighbouring areas of the Mediterranean city - the mainly Sunni district fof Bab al-Tebbaneh and the mostly Alawite one of Jabal Mohsen.

An army statement warned the troops deployed in the area 'will use force if necessary to protect civilians and their property and bar armed presence' on the streets.

Security sources in Tripoli said almost 2,200 families had fled their homes in the two neighbourhoods, and continued to be homeless for a thrid day running.

Tripoli municipality chief Mohammed Rashid Jamali said most are now holed in eight schools across the city waiting to return home.

The Lebanese army said it arrested a Sunni gunman, Abu Fadi Arour, in Bab al-Tebbaneh after a 30-minute clash with the Lebanese army.

'The army was trying to contain the deterioration but Arour failed to abide by the army to stop firing,' a Lebanese army source said.

The source said the army also shot and wounded on Sunday another gunman in shoot-out in Bab el-Tebbaneh, adding the army had been after him after he had opened fire on troops Saturday.

Lebanon has been hit by sporadic outbreaks of violence despite a power-sharing deal between rival political factions in May, which led to the election of Michel Sleiman as president and the creation of a unity cabinet that includes the radical Shi'ite Hezbollah movement.

The latest unrest came after the new cabinet hit snags in deliberations aimed at drawing up a policy agenda ahead of a parliamentary vote of confidence which would enable the government to be officially installed.

'The political tension is reflecting on the streets. Rather than to go to the constitutional institutions, they are reverting to the use of weapons,' Tripoli deputy Moshbah al Ahdab said.

Some residents of the Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tebbaneh residents said they had been living in their cars by the sea since Friday.

'I have been sleeping in my car with my wife and three children since Friday, because we fear for our safety,' said Ahemd Darwish from Bab al-Tebbaneh.

'We are anxiously awaiting the army to bring back calm and stability, so we can go home,' he added.

Clashes between the two sides have killed a total of about 30 people and wounded more than 100 since June.

Bab al-Tebbaneh is a stronghold of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, while the inhabitants of Jabal Mohsen mainly support the Syrian-backed opposition led by Hezbollah.

The violence erupted after cabinet ministers decided on Thursday night to postpone talks on the issue of weapons held by Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite Muslim political opposition movement and militia.

Hezbollah's arsenal is a key bone of contention in Lebanon's political negotiations.