By Xinhua,
Beirut : Heavy clashes and sniping fire renewed on Friday between rival sectarian factions in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli, causing more casualties, local Naharnet news website reported.
At least four people were killed and some 35 others were wounded in the fighting between gunmen from the Sunni Muslim Bab Tibbaneh and the Alawite Jabal Mohsen districts of Tripoli, local medical sources said.
Gunmen exchanged machinegun and grenade fire, forcing residents to flee. The Lebanese army closed the Tripoli-Akkar highway to prevent sniping fire from harming passing citizens, the report added.
Clashes in the northern districts of Tripoli have been sporadic since June and have left about 17 people dead and more than 100 others wounded.
The Tripoli fighting has cast a shadow over a deal that ended a bitter political conflict between Lebanon’s Sunni-led governing coalition and an opposition alliance led by Shi’ite Hezbollah, which is close to Alawite groups in the north.
The Lebanese army deployment in the region did not succeed in bringing lasting calm despite army command orders that clashes would be handled by military force.
Fierce clashes occurred last May in Beirut between pro-government and opposition supporters leading to a signed accord between Lebanese leaders in Doha on May 21, which prevented the use of arms to settle political disputes.
The rival alliances formed a national unity government on July11 after weeks of wrangling over portfolios. But they are now at odds over the government’s policy statement, with Hezbollah’s weapons at the heart of the dispute.