At least 22 wounded in clashes in Lebanese port city
  • 12 years ago
Smoke billows over Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli.

More than 20 people were wounded in overnight clashes between Sunni Muslims and Alawites in another spillover from the war in neighbouring Syria.

Gunmen from the rival districts exchanged gun and grenade fire in sporadic fighting through the night.

The fighting came despite the presence of Lebanese army troops in the port city.

An army statement said soldiers raided buildings used by gunmen and "retaliated swiftly against sources of gunfire".

Tensions between the two districts have been heightened by the mainly Sunni uprising in neighbouring Syria against Alawite President Bashar al-Assad, flaring into violence several times.

Fifteen people were killed in early June in clashes between the two areas.
Recommended