Cautious Calm in Tripoli: Suleiman, Miqati Give Order to Contain Situation as Soon as Possible

A cautious calm has fallen over Tripoli following Friday’s unrest between gunmen in the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, as media reports said that intermittent gunfire was heard near the area on Saturday morning.

The unrest broke out when Bab al-Tabbaneh residents staged a demonstration in support of the Syrian people, while the other neighborhood staged a demonstration in support for the Syrian regime.

The tensions between the two sides resulted in a gunfight during which various weapons were used, including sniping which killed two passersby.

Six people were killed while some 30 were injured in the unrest, reported Agence France Presse.

The army quickly deployed to contain the situation, which spread to the area of al-Rifa in al-Qebbeh neighborhood in Tripoli.

Informed security sources told al-Jumhuriya newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that President Michel Suleiman ordered all security forces to “contain the situation as soon as possible,” calling for sparing no expense to provide all security reinforcements for this end.

As Safir newspaper reported on Saturday that Prime Minister Najib Miqati headed a security meeting on Friday ahead of the army’s storming of the areas that witnessed fighting.

He also held talks with officials from Bab al-Tabbaneh informing them that the army planned to storm the area at 12:30 am Saturday.

Members of the Arab Democratic Party were informed to respect this deadline to hold a ceasefire, but it soon was violated and the clashes continued, reported As Safir.

The deadline to halt the fighting was extended to 1:00 am and all sides respected it and the army proceeded to deploy in the areas that witnessed the most fighting.

The newspaper reported that Miqati told Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and Army Commander Jean Qahwaji that Lebanon’s security is a “red line.”

“We will not allow the civil war and the times of militias and thugs to return to Tripoli or any other city or village in Lebanon,” he stressed.

“Whoever tampers with security will be harmed,” he warned.

For his part, Qahwaji order the army to arrest any gunman regardless of which side he is affiliated with.

Meanwhile, security sources told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that all signs indicate that the clash was planned.

Other sources voiced fears that situation would escalate if the concerned sides did not comply with Miqati and the army’s orders, given the connection between the situation in Tripoli and the demonstrations in Syria.

The National News Agency reported on Saturday the army deployed in Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen’s main streets at Miqati’s orders.

They set up fixed and mobile checkpoints and raided several houses in search of gunmen, while traffic returned to normal on the main Tripoli highway leading to the Akkar region.

The highway had witnessed sniper activity during Friday’s unrest.