600 security forces to be sent to restive Tripoli

Lebanese MP of Mustaqbal bloc Samir el-Jeser unveiled plans to send 600 Lebanese internal security forces to the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, which has been the scene of violence between gunmen opposing and supporting the Syrian regime over the past two days. Jeser told An Nahar newspaper out Monday that he expected the Lebanese president to issue a decree in this respect today. He said the security forces will take over responsibilities from the army which is not entitled to deal with such internal violence. He hoped that such a step would help bring back order in the city. Two days of fierce clashes have left 12 dead, including soldiers, and 50 wounded. The army forces have been trying to fire back at sources of fire in the city. The Tripoli clashes, the fiercest in months, caused panic among the city’s jittery residents, prompting scores of families in the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen to leave their homes to safer areas. Rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire were used in the fighting. Source: MENA