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Deadly fighting over Syria grips north Lebanon Deadly fighting over Syria grips north Lebanon
(about 4 hours later)
Eight people have been killed and at least 75 wounded in fighting in northern Lebanon between two Muslim communities divided over Syria. At least eight people have been killed and 75 wounded in the Lebanese city of Tripoli in clashes between opponents and supporters of Syria's president.
Street battles between Sunnis and Alawites in the city of Tripoli continued for a second night running. Leaders of the Sunni Muslim district of Bab al-Tabbana and the Alawite district of Jabal Muhsin have declared a ceasefire from 17:00 (14:00 GMT).
Old rivalries between the two groups have been fuelled by conflicting loyalties in neighbouring Syria. Earlier, the army tried to bring a halt to the fighting, which began on Monday night, but it was forced to retreat.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite, is battling largely Sunni opposition fighters. Sectarian tensions in Tripoli have been aggravated by the conflict in Syria.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, himself a Sunni, appealed to both sides to end the "absurd battle" rocking Tripoli, a city of nearly 200,000 people and the country's second largest. President Bashar al-Assad is an Alawite and members of the heterodox Shia sect occupy key positions in the government and security forces.
"We have repeatedly warned against being drawn into this blaze that has spread around Lebanon," he said, speaking of the violence in Syria. Syria's majority Sunni community has been at the forefront of the revolt against the state and has borne the brunt of the crackdown during the conflict, which the UN says has left more than 18,000 people dead.
He urged Tripoli residents "not to allow anyone to transform you into ammunition for someone else's war". 'Absurd battle'
Meanwhile, a warning from US President Barack Obama that Syria would be crossing a "red line" if it attempted to use chemical weapons has been criticised by China's state news agency Xinhua. A group of tanks gathered in the central square of Tripoli on Wednesday before making their way into the combat zone.
"Once again, Western powers are digging deep for excuses to intervene militarily," a commentary said. But it's just a show of force. The army has so far been unable to do anything more than create a buffer zone between the two neighbouring districts of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.
Intense clashes It's not the first time that clashes have erupted between residents of the two districts over sectarian and political differences related to the events in Syria.
Gunmen in the Sunni district of Bab al-Tabbana and Alawites in Jabal Muhsin exchanged gun and grenade fire overnight. But this time there's a feeling that something is different.
Two men killed were identified as residents of Jabal Muhsin, which overlooks a predominantly Sunni area where five people died, medical sources told the agency. Residents here have been speaking of an intensity to the clashes that is unprecedented.
A BBC producer in Lebanon, Ghadi Sary, told the Newsday programme that the authorities had failed to restore order. Political leaders have appealed for calm, but serious doubts have been raised about their willingness and ability to control the different factions amid a climate of sectarian radicalisation and a continuous flow of arms.
He said the fighting had continued all night, although it was quieter in the morning. Intermitted gunfire continued to be heard in Tripoli on Wednesday, following a second night of fighting between rival gunmen.
"So far [there are] no signs of the conflict letting go - and the army are still failing to intervene... they tried to deploy troops yesterday but [were] forced to evacuate when some of its soldiers came under attack, leaving nine wounded, including an officer." Two of those killed were identified as residents of Jabal Muhsin, which overlooks the predominantly Sunni area of Bab al-Tabbana where five people died, medical sources said. The dead included a 13-year-old boy and the wounded a six-year-old, officials told the AFP news agency.
Tripoli is one of Lebanon's most volatile sectarian faultlines, with a small Alawite community living in the midst of a Sunni majority, the BBC's Barbara Plett reports from the capital, Beirut. The army deployed troops in the areas in a bid to intervene, but they were forced to pull out after coming under attack and suffering casualties.
Violence flared several times recently but locals say the last two days of clashes have been particularly intense, our correspondent says. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati appealed to both sides to end the "absurd battle".
One witness said heavier weapons were being used, and over a larger area than normal. "We have repeatedly warned against being drawn into this blaze that has spread around Lebanon," he said, speaking of the conflict in neighbouring Syria.
Government policy has been to try to disassociate the country from the Syrian crisis, amid concern that it might re-ignite the divisions that fuelled Lebanon's own 15-year civil war, our correspondent adds. Mr Mikati also urged Tripoli residents "not to allow anyone to transform you into ammunition for someone else's war", and warned that the security forces had been told to "bring the situation under control, to prohibit any armed presence and to arrest those responsible".
But the more sectarian the violence becomes in Syria, the harder it is to prevent it from seeping across the border, she says. Later, political and religious leaders in Bab al-Tabbana and Jabal Muhsin agreed to implement a ceasefire, the BBC's Carine Torbey in Tripoli says.
They also called for the army to increase its presence in the area, particularly along Syria Street, which divides the two areas, she adds.
Sectarian faultline
Tripoli, a city of nearly 200,000 people and Lebanon's second largest, is one of the country's most volatile sectarian faultlines, with a small Alawite community living in the midst of a Sunni majority.
Violence has flared several times, including in early June when 15 people were killed, but locals say the last two days of clashes have been particularly intense. One witness said heavier weapons were being used, and over a larger area than normal.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Beirut says government policy has been to try to disassociate the country from the Syrian crisis, amid concern that it might re-ignite the divisions that fuelled Lebanon's own 15-year civil war.
But the more sectarian the violence becomes in Syria, the harder it is to prevent it from seeping across the border, our correspondent adds.
Syria was the dominant foreign power in Lebanon for some 30 years and attitudes to the conflict which erupted there last year colour Lebanese politics beyond Tripoli.Syria was the dominant foreign power in Lebanon for some 30 years and attitudes to the conflict which erupted there last year colour Lebanese politics beyond Tripoli.
Last week, a Lebanese Shia Muslim clan kidnapped dozens of Sunni Muslims in retaliation for the abduction of a Lebanese Shia man by rebels inside Syria. Last week, a Lebanese Shia Muslim clan kidnapped dozens of Sunnis in retaliation for the abduction of a Lebanese Shia man by rebels in Syria.
The rebels had accused the man, Hassan al-Mekdad, of being a member of the powerful Shia militant group Hezbollah who had entered the country to fight for the Assad government. The rebels had accused the man, Hassan Mekdad, of being a member of the powerful Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah, who had entered the country to fight for the government. However, Hezbollah has denied any connection with the clan member or the kidnappings.
However, Hezbollah has denied any connection with the clan member or the kidnappings. Are you in Lebanon or Syria? Do you have friends or family there? Send us your comments and details of your experiences using the form below. At no time should you endanger yourself or others or take any unnecessary risks.
'Reinforcements'
In Syria on Wednesday, government military operations intensified in the capital, Damascus, and in the second city, Aleppo, activists said.
The Kafar Soussa district of Damascus was one of those targeted by shellfire and helicopter gunships as the army sought to root out rebel forces.
There were varying reports of casualties, with activists putting the number of dead in the capital at between 23 and 40.
Fighter jets were also reported to be attacking Aleppo, where rebels claim to have taken 60% of the city.
The government denies the claim and a security source told AFP news agency: "Reinforcements from both sides are heading to Aleppo. It is a war that will last a long time."
According to a count by the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 198 people were killed in fighting in Syria on Tuesday. The figure could not be verified independently.
Are you in Lebanon or Syria? Do you have friends or family there? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. At no time should you endanger yourself or others or take any unnecessary risks.