- Title: LEBANON: Sectarian fighting in Tripoli dies down but tensions remain.
- Date: 25th August 2012
- Summary: CHILD WALKING HOLDING BREAD
- Embargoed: 9th September 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Lebanon
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Conflict,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3TTZBNLR383XIE99BQWTDCT8C
- Story Text: Fighting between Alawite and Sunni gunmen in the streets of Tripoli, which mirrors a sectarian divide in Lebanon's neighbour Syria, seems to abate.
The streets of the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli were calm on Saturday (August 25) as Lebanese soldiers deployed following clashes between Sunni Muslims and Alawites.
Sixteen people have lost their lives and at least scores have been wounded since Monday (August 20) in sporadic sectarian fighting triggered by the conflict in neighbouring Syria.
Seven Alawite-owned shops in mainly Sunni districts had been set on fire, a Lebanese security source said.
The fighting reflects the sectarian divisions that have emerged into the open in Syria's conflict.
Syria's majority Sunni Muslim population has been the backbone of the revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose minority Alawite sect has mostly stood with him.
Gunmen from Tripoli's Alawite-populated Jabal Mohsen district have been engaging in on-off skirmishes with Sunni fighters in the Bab al-Tabbaneh area.
One resident of Bab al-Tabbaneh said Refaat Eid, a leader of the Alawite community in Jabal Mohsen, had broken a ceasefire set up by Tripoli's political leaders on Wednesday (August 22) and blamed the government for not taking adequate security measures in Tripoli.
"We committed to the ceasefire agreement and they didn't. If the government can't control him, let it throw itself in the river," the resident said.
Another resident of Bab al-Tabbenah compared Refaat Eid's leadership to that of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"The situation in Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen is all to be blamed on Refaat Eid, he doesn't let children or anyone sleep, as if we are not Muslims and don't fear God. He is acting as if only he fears God, he doesn't and doesn't know God either, he is killing children and making people homeless, his regime is exactly like Bashar al-Assad," that resident said.
At least 10 Lebanese soldiers have been wounded in efforts to stop the violence in Tripoli this week.
Tensions between Alawites and Sunnis in Tripoli go back to the 1975-90 Lebanese civil war when Alawites sided with the forces of Bashar al-Assad's late father, former President Hafez al-Assad, against the Sunnis.
Syria had far-reaching influence in Lebanon for decades. Assad withdrew Syrian troops from Lebanon in 2005 after 29 years but the powerful Shi'ite Muslim militant group Hezbollah remains one of its strongest allies in the country.
The Lebanese government has distanced itself from the unrest in Syria for fear it might spill over because Lebanon's sectarian divisions are similar and Syria has powerful allies as well as enemies in its smaller neighbour. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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