Tripoli Goes on Strike on Friday to Denounce Deadly Fighting

The Traders Association of Northern Lebanon and civil society groups have called for a strike on Friday to denounce the deadly gunbattles that have rocked the northern city of Tripoli.

The association, public and private schools and civil society groups said Friday's strike will begin in the morning and end by noon prayers.

It is aimed at denouncing the chaos in the city and attacks on all security agencies.

One soldier died and eight others were wounded on Wednesday in the latest round of fighting between the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.

But one of them identified as Fadi al-Jamous succumbed to his injuries on Thursday morning.

The clashes also injured at least four civilians.

The two impoverished neighborhoods are the scenes of frequent sectarian clashes linked to the war in Syria.

The gunbattles erupted last Friday when a Jabal Mohsen man was shot dead in nearby al-Qobbeh.

Political figures, including caretaker PM Najib Miqati, and clergymen held a series of meetings on Wednesday to contain the clashes.

On Thursday, army units began deploying in the two areas and mainly Syria Street which separates the districts.

It erected checkpoints on the outskirts of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen and carried out patrols in the city's streets.

But hundreds of families that have fled the two neighborhoods in the past six days have not returned, and schools near the restive districts remained closed.