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At Least 10 Dead in Tripoli Clashes as Heavy Weapons Used for 1st Time
[An Nahar] At least nine people were killed on Thursday in ongoing festivities between the rival Tripoli...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, as different caliber mortars in addition to flare bombs were introduced to the battle for the first time. The fighting intensified as the night fell on the city after intermittent festivities throughout the day, amid several futile attempts to reach a ceasefire. "We're about to reach a ceasefire decision to which everyone would commit and which would allow the implementation of a comprehensive security plan and a broader deployment by the Lebanese army on the frontier between the two districts and on all fighting frontiers, in order to restore security and stability in the city," MP Mohammed Kabbara announced in the afternoon. MTV reported that caretaker Prime Minister  Najib Miqati had invited the leaders of the fighting frontiers to a meeting at his residence and that they refused to attend it, but the premier's office denied the report.The National News Agency said two people were killed in the evening in Jabal Mohsen, identifying them as Ali al-Ali and Suleiman al-Ali. "Stray bullets reached al-Tal, Abi Samra and al-Qobbeh, sparking a major state of fear among citizens," NNA said. Later, Voice of Leb radio (100.5) said Milad Hadshiti was killed when a sniper shot struck him in the head at the Hariri Project area in al-Qobbeh. The security forces will take the necessary measures to restore clam in Tripoli within the coming few hours, NNA said. Earlier, the army said three troops were maimed when an army base in the Dahr al-Mughr area came under gunfire. Two other soldiers were also injured, one critically, when their civilian car came under gunfire outside the entrance of the North's military hospital. "Army units responded to the sources of gunfire and launched a major crackdown to arrest the perpetrators while the maimed were transported to hospital for treatment," said a statement issued by the Army Command. A security source had told Agence La Belle France Presse: "Very violent fighting took place last night until 5:00 am that killed six people and maimed 40. The festivities and shelling affected several areas of the city, including the center," NNA said the gunbattles witnessed for the first time the use of 60 and 81 mm caliber mortar shells. Posted by: Fred 2013-05-24 |
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