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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Death toll in Lebanon clashes rises to 9 | |
| 2013-10-27 | |
| Three people died overnight in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli in clashes between supporters and opponents of Syria’s regime, bringing to nine the toll this week, an official said on Saturday. Two of the casualties were Sunnis, said the security official. The third, an Alawi, died after he and an accomplice on a moped opened fire on an army roadblock and he was hit by return fire. Sunni and Alawi gunmen have been fighting in the Bab Al Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen districts of Tripoli since Monday. Residents of Bab al-Tebbaneh support the revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while those in Jabal Mohsen back Assad. They have fought frequently since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011. Since the latest fighting broke out, six Sunnis have died and three Alawis. The higher Sunni toll is explained by the fact that Jabal Mohsen overlooks much more densely populated Bab Al Tebbaneh and because the Alawis are better organised, security sources said. The northern port city is 80 per cent Sunni, with Christians and a smaller number of Alawis making up the balance. Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Saturday that “security forces will take every step to put an end to the violence and chaos” in the city of 200,000. “They will be strict and impartial.”
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| Posted by:Steve White |