Arida Residents Block Crossing over Syrian Shelling

The residents of the northern border town of Arida blocked the main crossing that leads to Syria on Monday after Syrian shells from overnight clashes between rebels and government troops reached their town.

The protesters erected a huge tent and blocked the road that connects the northern Lebanese coast with Syria, the state-run National News Agency reported.

They warned that their protest will be open-ended, it said.

Shells damaged several houses and the town's mosque at dawn Monday. Syrian army shelling also targeted several other border villages, NNA added.

The residents of Arida asked during their protest for the Lebanese army to protect them.

The mayor, Ali Assaad Khaled, told LBCI TV's reporter that they "blocked the road so that the government resolves our problem."

Last week, dozens of protesters cut off the Arida and Abboudiyeh crossings – both in northern Lebanon - in protest at the transfer of diesel fuel tanks to the Syrian regime.

They cut off trucker routes by piling stones and other objects.