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| Lebanese soldiers die in Syria-linked clashes in Sidon | Lebanese soldiers die in Syria-linked clashes in Sidon |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| At least six Lebanese soldiers have been killed in clashes with Sunni militants in the port city of Sidon. | At least six Lebanese soldiers have been killed in clashes with Sunni militants in the port city of Sidon. |
| The army said fighting broke out after supporters of a radical Sunni cleric opened fire on a checkpoint. | The army said fighting broke out after supporters of a radical Sunni cleric opened fire on a checkpoint. |
| It said three officers were among the dead and several other soldiers were wounded. | It said three officers were among the dead and several other soldiers were wounded. |
| Sectarian tensions in Lebanon have risen since the country's Shia movement Hezbollah backed Syria's government in the civil war there. | Sectarian tensions in Lebanon have risen since the country's Shia movement Hezbollah backed Syria's government in the civil war there. |
| Witnesses said machine gun and rocket fire shook Sidon, 40km (28 miles) south of Beirut, causing panic among residents. | Witnesses said machine gun and rocket fire shook Sidon, 40km (28 miles) south of Beirut, causing panic among residents. |
| The army blamed the violence on supporters of hard-line Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir. | The army blamed the violence on supporters of hard-line Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir. |
| Correspondents say Sidon has been on edge since violence erupted last week between Sunni and Shia fighters who have taken different sides in the Syrian conflict. | Correspondents say Sidon has been on edge since violence erupted last week between Sunni and Shia fighters who have taken different sides in the Syrian conflict. |
| Lebanese officials have since been trying to quell the unrest. | Lebanese officials have since been trying to quell the unrest. |
| However, fresh clashes broke out on Sunday after police arrested a follower of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir at a checkpoint, sources told Reuters. | However, fresh clashes broke out on Sunday after police arrested a follower of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir at a checkpoint, sources told Reuters. |
| Other supporters of the cleric then attacked security forces in retaliation and called on their supporters to take to the streets nationwide, the sources said. | Other supporters of the cleric then attacked security forces in retaliation and called on their supporters to take to the streets nationwide, the sources said. |
| Unconfirmed reports said as many as 10 soldiers were killed and up to 40 others wounded as rocket-propelled grenades were fired at the checkpoint. | |
| "The army was attacked in cold blood in an attempt to light the fuse in Sidon," a military statement said. | |
| Smoke could be seen billowing over parts of the city and shells were reported to have hit central Sidon late in the evening. | |
| People in the worst affected areas - Abra and Hilaliya - called on the authorities to move them to safer places. | |
| Last month, Lebanon's parliament voted to postpone elections due in June because of security concerns over the conflict in Syria. | Last month, Lebanon's parliament voted to postpone elections due in June because of security concerns over the conflict in Syria. |