North Lebanon battle kills six, wounds 50

TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) - At least six people were killed on Friday in heavy clashes between rival sectarian factions in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli, medical sources said. Another 50 were wounded by the fighting between gunmen from the Sunni Muslim Bab Tibbaneh district and the Alawite Muslim Jabal Mohsen area of Tripoli. The fighters exchanged machinegun and grenade fire, forcing residents to flee. Sectarian violence linked to Lebanon's political troubles has killed at least 19 people in the past two months in the predominantly Sunni city. A military source said Friday's casualties included a soldier who was seriously wounded. The Tripoli fighting has cast a shadow over a deal that ended a bitter political conflict between Lebanon's Sunni-led governing coalition and an opposition alliance led by Shi'ite Hezbollah,... [read full story]