North Lebanon calm again after fresh clashes

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

TRIPOLI, Lebanon (AFP) — Shops reopened their doors and traffic returned to the streets of Tripoli on Thursday as calm returned to the northern Lebanese city following a fresh bout of violence, witnesses said.

An AFP correspondent said armed men who had taken to the streets on Tuesday night were no longer to be seen, and clashes which saw about 30 buildings and 15 stores burnt and 57 buildings damaged by rocket and gunfire had died away.

The latest clashes, in which no casualties were reported, began less than 24 hours after rival factions had agreed to a truce following violence on Sunday and Monday which killed nine people.

The clashes have pitted Sunni supporters of the Western-backed majority in parliament against members of an Alawite sect loyal to the...