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Army steps up security measures in Tripoli after shootout

Other News Materials 18 July 2008 15:20 (UTC +04:00)

Lebanese army soldiers and police intensified Friday their security measures in the northern city of Tripoli after two incidents which left a total of one person dead and six wounded, including four army soldiers, reported dpa.

A Lebanese army source told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that a car had failed to stop at a checkpoint, prompting the army to shoot at the vehicle, killing one person and wounding two.

"A car refused to stop at one of the army's checkpoints in the area of Bab al Tabbenh which prompted troops to fire," the source in northern Lebanon told dpa.

"The army had made it clear earlier this month that it will use force to stop any security breaches in this area," the source added.

Following the incident, a hand grenade was tossed on a Lebanese army checkpoint in a nearby area, wounding four Lebanese army soldiers.

Tensions were running high in the Bab al Tabbaneh area which had witnessed heavy clashes earlier this month between Sunni followers of the ruling majority and others from the neighboring area of Jabal Mohsen, who are loyal to the opposition led by Hezbollah.

Fourteen people have been killed and more than 100 wounded since June in various clashes between the neihboring districts which are located at the ouskirts of Tripoli.

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