Assad loyalists clash with demonstrators in Lebanon

Tensions have been raised once again in the southern Lebanese city of Tripoli Beirut – George Shahin A security source told Arabstoday that tensions have been raised once again in the southern Lebanese city of Tripoli, after  pro-democracy demonstrators were exposed to gunfire from what were said to be escorts of a leader from an Islamist group loyal to the regime in Syria. The incident caused three injuries.
Meanwhile units from the army arrived in the area  to reinforce the security forces who rushed to contain the aftermath of the incident and search for the attackers.
Sources close to the Prime Minister Najib Mikati told Arabstoday that he had contacted the Secretary General of the Islamic Unification Movement (IUM) Sheikh Bilal Shaaban and stressed the necessity to cooperate with the security apparatus to hand over the attackers and lift protection of  them them in order to prevent further aggravation of the situation.
The Lebanese government\'s information office released a statement which said that Mikati had conducted a number of dialogues with the Lebanese army leadership to take control of the situation and prevent any further escalation. Miktati requested of the citizens of Tripoli not to be drawn into any situation which would disturb the atmosphere of the city as the price paid would be the Tripoli people themselves.
The majority of Tripooli citizens are Sunnis, and the city has witnessed increased tensions following the events in Syria. Armed clashes haven arisen in the areas of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen whose  majority are Alawites, a sect of Shia Islam which the Syrian President Assad belongs to.