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Army Intelligence Tasked with Interrogating Sidon Fighting Suspects

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr tasked the Lebanese army intelligence on Tuesday with investigating the deadly clashes in the southern city of Sidon.

Saqr also gave the military intelligence command the right to question suspects whose number, according to the state-run National News Agency, has reached 40.

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Nail Bomb Blast on Masnaa Main Road

A roadside bomb exploded at dawn Tuesday on the Masnaa main road in the eastern Bekaa valley, without causing casualties, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The 150-gram bomb, which contained nails, was planted on the side of the road at al-Akramiyeh junction.

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U.S. Reminds Citizens of Travel Warning to Lebanon over Security Fears

The U.S. Department of State reiterated on Tuesday to its citizens the travel warning advisory to Lebanon over safety and security concerns.

“In light of recent escalating sectarian clashes within Lebanon and spillover violence from Syria... We urge all U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon because of safety and security concerns,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

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U.S. Concerned over Sidon Clashes, Urges World Support for 'Responsible Lebanese Leaders'

The United States has expressed grave concern over the latest battles that pitted fighters supporting Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir against Lebanese soldiers in the southern city of Sidon.

The U.S. “is gravely concerned by the violent clashes in Sidon,” U.S. State Department Acting Deputy Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell said Monday.

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Ban Urges Lebanese Army to Back Suleiman, Expresses 'Deep Concern'

U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon on Monday appealed to Lebanon's armed forces to remain loyal to President Michel Suleiman as sectarian tensions fueled by the Syrian conflict mounted.

Ban is following events in Lebanon with "deep concern," said U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey after 16 Lebanese troops were killed as they battled followers of a radical Sunni Muslim sheikh for two days.

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Hariri: We Will Remain with Army, Every Outlaw Must be Dealt with in Same Manner

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday stressed that al-Mustaqbal movement “will remain with the army,” saying the military institution did the right thing by confronting Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir.

“The army offered major sacrifices and we must all embrace it,” Hariri said in an interview on Future TV.

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Miqati, Salam, ex-PMs Reject Attacks on Army, Urge Closure of 'All Security Apartments, Zones'

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Premier-designate Tammam Salam and the former prime ministers on Monday condemned "any attack on the army, whichever side it may come from," while demanding the closure of "all security zones."

In a statement issued after a meeting at the Grand Serail, the conferees "stressed their condemnation and rejection of any attack on the army or any security institution, whichever side it may come from, because the army is the shield of the country in the face of disintegration and the undermining of Lebanon's image and independence.”

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Abbas Rejects ‘All Interference’ in Lebanese Affairs in Phone Call with Suleiman

Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday stated his rejection of "any interference" in Lebanese affairs.

“We stress the rejection of the Palestinian factions of any interference in Lebanese affairs,” Abbas said in a phone call with President Michel Suleiman.

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Arab League Warns of Severity of Targeting Lebanese Army

The Arab League condemned on Monday the attack against the Lebanese army by supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir in the southern city of Sidon on Sunday, calling on all Lebanese powers to exert efforts to avert strife.

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi warned of the “dangerousness of targeting the army,” demanding that the assailants be arrested and brought to justice.

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Hizbullah Condemns Sidon Clashes: Army Guarantor for Civil Peace in Lebanon

Hizbullah slammed on Monday the attack against the army by supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir in the southern city of Sidon on Sunday.

Its said in a statement: “The army is the guarantor of civil peace in Lebanon and any attack against it is tantamount to an attack against the entire nation.”

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