Arab Democratic Party Official Shot Dead in Tripoli amid Flare up
An Arab Democratic Party official, who is the father of one of the suspects in the mosque bombings in the northern city of Tripoli, was on Thursday killed in the area of al-Mina.
Abdul Rahman Diab, known as Aboudi Nwasi, was gunned down in his car by an unidentified motorcyclist.
Abdul Rahman, a Alawite residing in Jabal Mohsen, is the father of Youssef Diab.
Youssef, who is in detention, has been charged along with several others in connection with the August bombings of the two mosques in Tripoli.
The charges include the formation of an armed gang for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities and the bombing of al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques on August 23.
He has admitted to parking a booby-trapped car that exploded near al-Salam mosque.
As news broke out about Diab's assassination, gunmen from the rival neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh engaged in sniper attacks.
At least six people were injured in the clashes that later involved the use of Rocket Propelled Grenades.
The army, which responded to the sources of fire, blocked the highway that links Tripoli with the northern district of Akkar and helped the evacuation of students from several local schools.
It later brought in commando reinforcements in the hotspots and erected checkpoints.
State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr tasked military police with launching an investigation into the clashes.
Tripoli has been the scene of frequent deadly clashes between Alawite residents of the Jabal Mohsen district, who hail from the same religious sect as Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Sunnis in neighboring Bab al-Tabbaneh who support the Syrian rebels.
Prime Minister Tammam Salam condemned the killing of Diab, saying his murder was an attempt to create retaliatory acts that would lead Tripoli into a security chaos.
Salam gave orders for the army to act quickly and decisively to pursue the assassin.
He also hoped that Tripoli MPs and personalities would exert efforts to prevent a further deterioration in the security situation.
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