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Lebanese Port Is Calmer, but Tensions Remain Calm Returns to Lebanese City, but Tensions Remain
(about 1 hour later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — With shattered glass and bullet casings still littering the streets, businesses reopened and people went back to work in the coastal city of Sidon on Tuesday after a 48-hour battle between supporters of a radical Sunni cleric and Lebanese troops that left dozens dead. But in the aftermath of the battle, involving some of the worst mayhem since Lebanon’s civil war, resentments simmered and political questions loomed.BEIRUT, Lebanon — With shattered glass and bullet casings still littering the streets, businesses reopened and people went back to work in the coastal city of Sidon on Tuesday after a 48-hour battle between supporters of a radical Sunni cleric and Lebanese troops that left dozens dead. But in the aftermath of the battle, involving some of the worst mayhem since Lebanon’s civil war, resentments simmered and political questions loomed.
The army’s crackdown on the cleric, Sheik Ahmad al-Assir, who had been amassing weapons and threatening Shiites, won broad support across the Lebanese political spectrum. But the intensity of the fighting and the intervention by the army gave rise to fears that the conflict would deepen. The army is one of the few guarantors of national stability under a weak caretaker government in a country divided over the civil war in neighboring Syria.The army’s crackdown on the cleric, Sheik Ahmad al-Assir, who had been amassing weapons and threatening Shiites, won broad support across the Lebanese political spectrum. But the intensity of the fighting and the intervention by the army gave rise to fears that the conflict would deepen. The army is one of the few guarantors of national stability under a weak caretaker government in a country divided over the civil war in neighboring Syria.
Lakhdar Brahimi, the joint special envoy on Syria for the United Nations and the Arab League, expressed worries about the violence in Sidon on Tuesday at a meeting in Geneva aimed at laying the groundwork for a peace conference on Syria. Mr. Brahimi, a veteran Algerian statesman who helped to broker the end of Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war, told reporters at a news briefing that he supported Lebanon’s president, Michel Suleiman, the Lebanese military and “all those who are acting to contain this very serious crisis in their country.”Lakhdar Brahimi, the joint special envoy on Syria for the United Nations and the Arab League, expressed worries about the violence in Sidon on Tuesday at a meeting in Geneva aimed at laying the groundwork for a peace conference on Syria. Mr. Brahimi, a veteran Algerian statesman who helped to broker the end of Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war, told reporters at a news briefing that he supported Lebanon’s president, Michel Suleiman, the Lebanese military and “all those who are acting to contain this very serious crisis in their country.”
The authorities and residents said that the only explosions in Sidon on Tuesday were those of the army blasting open doors as they secured Mr. Assir’s mosque complex, riddled with bullets after the army — and, according to some eyewitness accounts, fighters from Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese Shiite militant group — assaulted the compound for two days.The authorities and residents said that the only explosions in Sidon on Tuesday were those of the army blasting open doors as they secured Mr. Assir’s mosque complex, riddled with bullets after the army — and, according to some eyewitness accounts, fighters from Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese Shiite militant group — assaulted the compound for two days.
But there was a sense that the conflict remained unresolved. The cleric was a fugitive, on the run with some of his armed supporters. Many Sunnis, barely concealing their resentment, said they felt that Mr. Assir’s side had been provoked. According to the army, Mr. Assir’s followers attacked soldiers at a checkpoint.But there was a sense that the conflict remained unresolved. The cleric was a fugitive, on the run with some of his armed supporters. Many Sunnis, barely concealing their resentment, said they felt that Mr. Assir’s side had been provoked. According to the army, Mr. Assir’s followers attacked soldiers at a checkpoint.
Residents said Mr. Assir gave voice to Sunni anger over the dominance of Hezbollah and its decision to intervene militarily in Syria against an uprising that many Lebanese Sunnis support.Residents said Mr. Assir gave voice to Sunni anger over the dominance of Hezbollah and its decision to intervene militarily in Syria against an uprising that many Lebanese Sunnis support.
Saad Hariri, the leader of Hezbollah’s main Sunni political rival, the Future Movement, said Monday that Lebanon’s greatest problem is militant groups — chiefly Hezbollah — that bear weapons outside the government’s control.Saad Hariri, the leader of Hezbollah’s main Sunni political rival, the Future Movement, said Monday that Lebanon’s greatest problem is militant groups — chiefly Hezbollah — that bear weapons outside the government’s control.
Mr. Hariri, a former prime minister and scion of a powerful Sidon family, said Hezbollah’s weapons were no excuse for Sunnis to take up illegal arms. Mr. Hariri’s party is part of the March 14 movement, which seeks to strengthen Lebanese state institutions, but its lack of a powerful armed wing has left many Sunnis feeling vulnerable to Hezbollah and open to supporting figures like Mr. Assir.Mr. Hariri, a former prime minister and scion of a powerful Sidon family, said Hezbollah’s weapons were no excuse for Sunnis to take up illegal arms. Mr. Hariri’s party is part of the March 14 movement, which seeks to strengthen Lebanese state institutions, but its lack of a powerful armed wing has left many Sunnis feeling vulnerable to Hezbollah and open to supporting figures like Mr. Assir.
Government officials said Mr. Assir had been a threat to all of Lebanon and praised the army, which lost 17 soldiers in the fighting, the largest toll in such a short period since the Syrian conflict started fueling sporadic clashes in Lebanon. The death toll among Mr. Assir’s followers was unclear; medical workers said at least 100 people had been taken to hospitals.Government officials said Mr. Assir had been a threat to all of Lebanon and praised the army, which lost 17 soldiers in the fighting, the largest toll in such a short period since the Syrian conflict started fueling sporadic clashes in Lebanon. The death toll among Mr. Assir’s followers was unclear; medical workers said at least 100 people had been taken to hospitals.
Neighborhoods across Sidon — from Abra, the hilltop area near the mosque, to the wealthy downtown — faced a long and expensive cleanup. Local officials put the damage at $20 million, a heavy toll for a city where the economy has already been dampened by security fears and the Syrian crisis.Neighborhoods across Sidon — from Abra, the hilltop area near the mosque, to the wealthy downtown — faced a long and expensive cleanup. Local officials put the damage at $20 million, a heavy toll for a city where the economy has already been dampened by security fears and the Syrian crisis.

Rick Gladstone contributed reporting from New York.

Rick Gladstone contributed reporting from New York.