Region | Lebanon

Troops bring calm to Tripoli after two days of fighting

Lebanese troops enter Lebanon's second largest city, bringing calm after two days of deadly sectarian fighting.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 22:06 June 23, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Sunni fighters patrol the streets during clashes in the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon on Monday.
  • Image Credit: AP

Tripoli, Lebanon: Lebanese troops deployed in Lebanon's second largest city on Monday, bringing calm after two days of sectarian fighting that has killed at least nine and dented a deal to restore political stability.

Witnesses said soldiers and policemen in armoured troop carriers entered the outskirts of the northern city of Tripoli, scene of fighting between government supporters and Alawite gunmen close to the Hezbollah-led opposition.

The clashes subsided, then stopped as the forces deployed on the frontline between the Sunni Bab Al Tibaneh area and Alawite Jabal Mohsen. The troops moved out into the small streets of both areas and gunmen disappeared.

Civilians returned behind the army to check their properties on the frontline with some shops and apartments still smouldering.

"Poor people on both sides pay the price," a man, who did not give his name, said as he checked his shop in the area. "The army must impose its authority on the ground and confiscate weapons from the hands of people."

Unity government

The army said in a statement it would start implementing measures to restore an enduring calm and warned that it would use force if necessary to end the bloodshed.

Sunni parliamentary majority leader Sa'ad Hariri called on his followers in Tripoli to cooperate with the army.

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told a news conference in Vienna, where he is attending an aid conference: "We really condemn every use of weapons against civilians, and the use of weapons inside the country ... These are really acts that will undermine the stability of the country."

Last month Lebanon ended its 18-month political crisis with the Western-backed coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition reaching a Qatari-mediated accord. The conflict had led to a violent showdown that threatened a new civil war.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

Related Articles

  1. Deadly fighting continues in Lebanon

    Deadly fighting continues in Lebanon

    Fighting between rival factions in north Lebanon kills 4 more people

  2. Lebanese prime minister condemns violence

    Lebanese prime minister condemns recent violence in north of country

  3. Lebanese rivals blame each other for cabinet delay

    A month after Doha accord rivals blame each other for cabinet delay

  4. Fighting rages in north Lebanon

    Fighting rages in north Lebanon

    Fighting rages in north Lebanon for second day

  5. Three killed as Lebanese clans clash

    Three killed as Lebanese clans clash

    At least 3 killed, 30 injured as clashes erupt between rival clans in Lebanon

More from Lebanon

  1. Unity Cabinet unlikely to tackle divisive arms issue

  2. Hezbollah leader lashes out at Obama

  3. New Lebanese regime's priorities

  4. Lebanon's unity cabinet comes under scrutiny

All articles in Lebanon

More from Region

Gulf News
Popular in News
News Editor's choice