Fighting rages in north Lebanon, more killed

Fighting raged Monday in the northern city of Tripoli between the rival neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, raising the number of fatalities of the clashes that erupted over the weekend to five, security sources said. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said more than 20 people were wounded as a result of the clashes between Jabal Mohsen, residents of which support Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Bab al-Tabbaneh, which largely supports the uprising in Lebanon’s neighbor. On Sunday, Gunmen opened fire in the air after a fiery speech by Akkar Mufti Sheikh Ossama Rifai in Beirut during the funeral of police Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan, killing a 15-year-old resident of Jabal Mohsen. The death of Rola Fakhro triggered the armed clashes between the rival neighborhoods. Assad supporter Rifaat Eid, the head of the Arab Democratic Party, urged the Lebanese Army Monday to respond to the sources of fire and take control of the situation, the sources said. Meanwhile, the military was out en masse in Tripoli’s main Nour Square to prevent any possible escalation by Future Movement supporters who have set up at least eight tents outside Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s residence. The tents are part of a sit-in launched Sunday by Akkar MP Mouin Merhebi, a member in the Future parliamentary bloc. On Sunday, Future parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora, speaking at the funeral of Hasan in Beirut, called on Mikati to resign. From DailyStar