Suleiman Orders Stronger Measures as al-Beddawi Buries Dead

President Michel Suleiman ordered on Monday stronger measures to preserve security and stability in northern Lebanon a day after three men were killed in clashes over a clampdown on illegal construction.

“Suleiman followed up the security situation in the country in general and specifically the North and met at Baabda palace with caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji and the acting head of the Internal Security Forces, Gen. Roger Salem,” a presidential statement said.

The president “was briefed on the security measures taken in general and mainly in the North, and gave the appropriate instructions to implement the measures that would preserve security and stability,” it said.

His instructions came as the residents of al-Beddawi neighborhood of Wadi al-Nahleh near the northern city of Tripoli buried their dead amid a tense situation that saw gunmen roaming the streets and opening fire in the air.

Public and private schools in al-Beddawi were also closed.

The fighting broke out on Sunday after Wadi al-Nahleh residents held a violent protest against security forces who were removing buildings that had violated regulations.

Two citizens and a corporal died in the clashes, the ISF announced in a communique. Five policemen and several citizens were also injured.

It said two police vehicles were torched and several others were damaged.

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr was on Monday overseeing the investigation carried out by the police in northern Lebanon.