TRIPOLI, Lebanon: Fears of renewed fighting in the northern city of Tripoli persisted Saturday despite a lull following overnight clashes, as residents and activists took to the streets to protest the repeated Syria-linked violence.
A cease-fire call by the city’s lawmakers Friday evening fell on deaf ears as rival fighters in the mainly Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh and mostly Alawite Jabal Mohsen continued to exchange rocket-propelled grenades well into the early hours of the morning.
The hostilities subsided at 5 a.m. but intermitted sniper fire could still be heard throughout the day.
Security sources said the death toll rose to 26 since fighting between the warring sides erupted on March 33. The number of wounded also rose to 178, they added.
Despite the lull, sources in the city said there were fears violence could grip the city once more after the planned funeral of Khaled Khalidi, who was killed in Baba al-Tabbaneh Friday night.
Gathering outside the Tripoli’s Serial, residents and activists raised banners calling for a solution to the repeated violence in the city.
“One hundred and sixty five killed and over 2,000 wounded. Enough: we need a solution,” one of the banners read.
“Who is responsible for wasting the academic year of Tripoli’s students,” another banner read.
The protesters also urged the Lebanese Army to deploy in the entire city.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi said in comments to An-Nahar newspaper that a comprehensive three-phase plan was being prepared to restore stability and security in Tripoli.
“Efforts have reached a significant stage to stop the rounds of fighting in Tripoli,” Rifi said.
“The solution is three-staged. The first [stage] would see the implementation of a successful security plan that restores stability, the second involves compensating the victims ... and the third would be to launch a development workshop to revive the city’s social and economic situation,” he said.
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