One killed, seven hurt in growing Tripoli clashes

Tripoli:  One person was killed and seven were wounded yesterday in fresh sectarian clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian districts in the north Lebanon port city of Tripoli, a security official said.

"Sporadic clashes involving the use of rockets and machineguns began at around 4:00 am between the neighbourhoods of Bab Al Tebanneh and Jabal Mohsen," said the official.

The army, deployed in both neighbourhoods since Monday, had withdrawn and was firing back at areas where shots were coming from, the official said.

Jabal Mohsen is populated mainly by Alawites loyal to the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, while Bab Al Tebbaneh residents support the opposition seeking to oust Al Assad.

Sectarian clashes between residents of the two districts earlier this week left nine people dead and some 50 wounded and sparked fears that the revolt in Syria could engulf its neighbour.

The clashes were sparked by the arrest of a Sunni Islamist on charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation.