Security forces break up street clashes

Government and opposition supporters took to the streets Friday in the Beirut areas of Ras al-Nabeh, Corniche al-Mazraa, and Burj Abu Haidar following the noon prayer, forcing the Lebanese Army and security forces to deploy heavily in mixed Sunni-Shiite areas of the capital.

 

Sources from Ras al-Nabeh said a clash broke out Friday after members of Shiite Amal Movement attacked a number of offices for parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri”s dominantly-Sunni Future Movement, wounding at least 20 people.

 

The sources said Amal supporters were retaliating after a party member lost his eye in a fight in Thursday evening clashes in the same area.

 

Protesters marching back from the March 14 Forces rally on Thursday clashed with opposition supporters who were allegedly pulling down a poster of slain former Premier Rafik Hariri and his son, MP Saad Hariri.

 

The two feuding groups threw stones at each other before the army and the Internal Security Forces intervened.

 

The army on Friday intensified its security measures and increased its deployment in areas known to be inhabited by both Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

 

Other security sources denied any clashes took place Friday and told The Daily Star that army deployment had

been a precaution.