Abra Detainees Go on Hunger Strike in Jezzine Prison

Suspects held following the clashes that took place near the southern city of Sidon last year went on hunger strike in Jezzine prison to protest the delay in holding their trials, the state-run National News Agency reported Monday.

NNA said the suspects kicked off their hunger strike on Monday morning over the procrastination of the authorities to take them to trial.

The detainees are supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir, who went into hiding following the gunbattles with the Lebanese army in June 2013.

The 45-year-old cleric who supports the overwhelmingly Sunni rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, is nowhere to be found along with pop idol Fadel Shaker.

Asir's supporters opened fire on an army checkpoint near the cleric's headquarters in the Sidon suburb of Abra in June 2013. The attack and the fierce clashes that ensued left around 18 soldiers and more than 20 gunmen dead.

The gunbattles concentrated in the area of the Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque and nearby buildings in Abra.

G.K.

M.T.