Sporadic clashes in north Lebanon continue, 8 killed so far

Cautious calm reigned over the northern city of Tripoli Wednesday, interrupted by sporadic gunfire as the number of killed rose to 8, including a soldier who died of his wounds. Periodic armed clashes continued well into the night between the anti-Assad Sunni stronghold of Bab al-Tabbaneh and the Alawite-dominated pro-Assad Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods amid growing fears of a Syrian contagion. Eight people, including a soldier, have been killed so far while 11 soldiers and 55 civilians have been wounded since the fighting began Monday, security sources told The Daily Star. Lebanese Army units deployed in Bab al-Tabbaneh, Jabal Mohsen and al-Qibba are responding to sniper fire which has forced the closure of the international road connecting Tripoli to the northern city of Akkar. In a bid to put an end to the violence, a meeting held at Future Movement MP Mohammad Kabbara’s Tripoli home brought together Future lawmakers and representatives of Islamist movements in the city. Lebanon’s stability has been under the spotlight since Syria’s uprising – now in its 18th month – intensified at the start of this year, steadily raising tensions between the two deeply divided political camps: the pro-Assad March 8 and pro-opposition March 14 coalition. The violence came less than a week after Lebanon was jolted by a wave of kidnappings of Syrians and two Turkish nationals by the Meqdad clan and other groups that seek to exchange them for 12 Lebanese held hostage by Syrian rebels. A Meqdad family member was recently kidnapped by Syrian rebels in Damascus and 11 Lebanese pilgrims were abducted in May. From DailyStar