June 23, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 18, 1429

TRIPOLI (Lebanon), June 22: At least three people were killed and 30 wounded on Sunday in sectarian clashes in Lebanon’s second largest city Tripoli, security sources said.

Explosions and machinegun fire rocked the city as Sunni supporters of the government and Alawite gunmen close to the Hezbollah-led opposition battled on the outskirts of the mainly Sunni port.

Lebanese army units deployed in the area and tried to end the fighting and local leaders held talks to contain the conflict. Dozens of families fled the scene of the clashes that tapered off after both sides agreed a ceasefire, the sources said.

Several homes, shops and cars were damaged in the clashes that left the streets of the city largely deserted.

It was not immediately clear how the fighting began at dawn but tension has been high in recent weeks between the Sunni Bab Tibbaneh district and Alawite Jabal Mohsen.

Last month Lebanon ended its 18-month political crisis with the Western-backed coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition reaching a Qatari-mediated accord. The conflict had led to a violent showdown between the two sides.

Since then there have been frequent minor security incidents between supporters of the opposing factions. Delays in the formation of a national unity government as stipulated in last month’s accord, have raised fears of a further deterioration in the security situation.—Reuters