Spotlight
The European Union condemned Friday "the use of violence" duting the demonstration against the judge leading the investigation into the Beirut Port blast.
The EU expressed, in a statement, its condolences to the families of the victims and called for "utmost restraint to avoid further senseless loss of life."

Naval Forces and Marine Commandos found the wreckage of a civilian training plane and the bodies of the two victims who were on board, the Army said Friday.
The army added, in a statement, that the plane had crashed 1200 meters from the beach of Halat, 30 meters deep.

The street violence in and around Tayyouneh on Thursday was reminiscent of the 1975-1990 civil war that involved several of the same players. Who exactly was involved in Thursday's flare-up?

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland met with Lebanese leaders on Thursday, on a visit whose schedule was thrown off by the deadly Tayyouneh clashes -- the most dangerous round of sectarian fighting that the country has witnessed since 2008.
Speaking at a press conference that followed her meetings with the country’s leaders, Nuland offered condolences on behalf of the American people for “the tragic loss of life” in the clashes.

Lebanon prepared to bury the victims of its deadliest sectarian unrest in years Friday after gunfire gripped the Tayyouneh-Ain el-Rummaneh area for hours and revived the ghosts of the civil war.
Seven people were killed and dozens wounded Thursday when violence erupted following a rally by Hizbullah and Amal Movement protesters demanding the removal of the judge investigating last year's port blast.

Hizbullah and Amal on Thursday openly accused the Lebanese Forces of launching an “armed attack” on their supporters in the Tayyouneh area, which had during the day witnessed hours-long armed clashes reminiscent of the beginning of the 1975-1990 civil war.

The United States on Thursday urged an easing of tensions in Lebanon after deadly violence in a Beirut suburb sparked fears of a return to sectarian strife.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka expressed "deep concern" Thursday over the outbreaks of violence that took place in and around Tayyouneh and resulted in several deaths and injuries.
Condemning the "use of armed violence outside of state authority," she underscored the need for restraint and for maintaining calm and stability and ensuring the protection of civilians.

Amal Movement and Hizbullah accused "armed and organized groups" of assaulting their supporters in Tayyouneh, in a joint statement Thursday.

President Michel Aoun has made calls to follow up on the developments of the Tayyouneh clashes “in order to address the situation and take the necessary action to restore calm to the region,” the Presidency said Thursday.
Aoun called Prime Minister Najib Miqati, ministers of defense and interior Maurice Slim and Bassam Mawlawi, and Army Commander General Joseph Aoun.
