4 Dead, 2 Journalists Injured Day after Deal to Give Political Cover to Army in Tripoli

A Sunni sheikh and three others were killed during clashes in the northern city of Tripoli as intermittent gunbattles rocked the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen on Friday for a fifth straight day.

Sheikh Khaled al-Baradei, 28, was killed from sniper fire when fierce fighting broke out at dawn between the residents of Qobbeh district and Jabal Mohsen despite an agreement reached on Thursday to give the army the green light to restore order in Tripoli.

The two others identified as Issam Maarabani and Walid Masmas succumbed to their wounds.

Later on Friday, LBCI television said Shehadeh Qdah was killed by sniper fire in Jabal Mohsen.

Sniper fire also injured two Sky News Arabia journalists, including a foreigner.

Broadcast Engineer Hussein Nahle was wounded in the head and Canadian Maria Moore also sustained injuries in her foot from the sniper fire that reached Douwwar Abou Ali,the National News Agency said.

Around 15 others were wounded.

Following the morning clashes, the army expanded its deployment and responded to the sources of fire. But its personnel carriers that are deployed in the dividing line of Syria Street came under intense sniper fire from Jabal Mohsen.

Meanwhile, NNA said masked men roamed the streets of Tripoli and burned several shops, including a coffee kiosk near al-Nour square.

The two deaths brought to 13 the number of people killed in clashes in the city over the past five days. At least 95 people have been wounded.

During a meeting held at Premier Najib Miqati’s residence in Tripoli on Thursday, political, religious and security officials agreed to give the army “the necessary political cover from all parties” to stop the gunbattles and arrest the militants.

The five-day fighting was threatening to spiral out of control and was a clear sign of the spillover of the Syrian war to Lebanon.

The majority of Bab al-Tabbaneh residents is Sunni and supports the revolution against President Bashar Assad. But their rivals in Jabal Mohsen are mainly Alawites, the sect of the Syrian leader.