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France to speed arms delivery to Lebanon as violence continues Syria conflict: France to speed up arms for Lebanon
(about 9 hours later)
France says that it is to speed up the delivery of weapons to the Lebanese army, in response to the rising violence in the country. France says that it is to speed up the delivery of weapons to the Lebanese army, as violence from Syria's conflict threatens to spill over.
In the latest clash, gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying soldiers in the city of Tripoli, the army said. The army has been fighting and Islamist militants from Syria for days around the eastern border town of Arsal.
Meanwhile on the border with Syria two Lebanese soldiers have reportedly been killed, as fighting with Syrian rebels continues for a fourth day. A 24-hour ceasefire was agreed between the two sides, but reports say the truce collapsed within three hours when an army position came under fire.
A young girl has also been shot dead, after clashes spread. Fighting began on Saturday when Syrian rebels raided the mainly Sunni town.
The fighting on the border began on Saturday when Syrian rebels raided Arsal, a mainly Sunni Lebanese town. They objected to the detention by Lebanese forces of an alleged member of Syria's Islamist militant group al-Nusra Front.
The rebels objected to the detention by Lebanese forces of an alleged member of Syria's Islamist militant group al-Nusra Front. Mediators attacked
At least 15 soldiers have been killed in the area since the weekend. At least 17 soldiers have been killed in the area since the weekend, with 22 more reported missing.
The "humanitarian ceasefire" which started at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT) would allow time to investigate the fate of the missing soldiers and to evacuate the casualties, an unnamed security source told Reuters.
"Clashes erupted but now they have ended. The ceasefire is still on, it did not collapse. What happened was to be expected due to differences between the fighters," he said.
The agreement was reached under mediation by Muslim clerics seeking to end four days of fighting in Arsal.
The Syrian Islamist rebels released three policemen held captive in the city on Tuesday, apparently as a goodwill gesture in response to the mediation efforts.
Several members of the group, the Association of Muslim Scholars, were themselves injured when they came under attack from a hail of bullets on Monday.
"The driver managed to hide while my colleague and I were stuck in the car and I got hit in my ankle," Sheik Salem al-Rafei told Associated Press
The district around Arsal, in the north of the Bekaa valley, is known for continuing tension between the Lebanese army and Syrian militias.
In December, Saudi Arabia pledged to spend $3bn (£1.7bn) on French military equipment and weapons for Lebanon's army. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), have long complained of being underfunded in a country rife with well-equipped militias.In December, Saudi Arabia pledged to spend $3bn (£1.7bn) on French military equipment and weapons for Lebanon's army. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), have long complained of being underfunded in a country rife with well-equipped militias.
The French Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Vincent Floreani said on Tuesday that France is "...fully committed to supporting the Lebanese army, a pillar of stability and unity in Lebanon." The French Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Vincent Floreani said on Tuesday that France was "fully committed to supporting the Lebanese army, a pillar of stability and unity in Lebanon."
Fighting spreads northFighting spreads north
The district around Arsal, in the north of the Bekaa valley, is known for continuing tension between the Lebanese army and Syrian militias. On Monday night, fighting broke out in the northern port city of Tripoli, with gunmen opening fire on a bus carrying soldiers.
Army units were trying to recapture the courthouse in Arsal from the rebels, as well as the area surrounding a customs building, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. A young girl was shot dead in exchanges with gunmen around Lebanese army positions in the city.
On Monday night, fighting broke out in Tripoli. The northern port city is divided between a Sunni population and the minority Shia Alawite community which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The northern port city is divided between a Sunni population and the minority Shia Alawite community which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Reports say firing erupted after a demonstration against the army's handling of the situation in Arsal. Another spark is thought to have been reports that a number of Sunni clerics were wounded as they entered Arsal to try to broker a ceasefire. Reports say fighting erupted after a demonstration against the army's handling of the situation in Arsal.
The young girl was reported killed when a bullet hit her in the head in exchanges with gunmen around Lebanese army positions in Tripoli.