Tashnag Leader Downplays Bourj Hammoud Fighting

Tashnag Secretary-General Hovig Mekhitarian denied on Friday that an armed dispute in the Bourj Hammoud-Nabaa area between the party’s supporters and Hizbullah and Amal had political reasons.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), Mekhitarian said a fight that erupted around midnight Thursday was over a personal dispute and not linked to political issues.

He did not identify the sides that were involved in the fighting but said contacts were launched between the “leaderships of the parties” to contain the incident.

There were no injuries or material damage, he added.

His remarks came after MTV said that a dispute erupted between at least one Tashnag member and supporters of Hizbullah and Amal, leaving three vehicles damaged.

The suspects escaped from the scene, MTV said.During the brawl, gunshots were fired in the air.

However, LBCI reported that gunmen intercepted several Bourj Hammoud residents, who were returning from a visit to a nearby graveyard, breaking the windows of three vehicles and damaging a fourth car.

Security forces raided the homes of the suspects and launched a manhunt, it said.