Overnight clashes between rival Christian clans in a northern Lebanese village left two people killed and three other wounded, local OTV channel reported Wednesday.
The armed clashes broke out between members of the Lebanese Forces party and those from Marada movement in the town of Bsarma in Koura province in north Lebanon. One of the killed is Marada official Pierre Ishaq, and the other is a member of the Lebanese Forces party, according to the TV report.
The Syrian Socialist National party (SSNP), a Lebanese opposition party, took the side of Marada which is also a Christian opposition movement, in clashing with the Christian Lebanese Forces party in the town.
The clashes took place after midnight when supporters of Maradatore down banners belonging to the Lebanese Forces, and when Lebanese Forces members came back to replace the banners, they were taken by surprise by shootings from the Marada movement members.
Security forces later raided the house of SSNP member Ghazan Ghazi, who is suspected of causing the Bsarma clashes, and arrested him after confiscating weapons from his house.
This is the first incident of inter-Christian fighting since 1989, when the Lebanese army headed by Gen. Michel Aoun, who was the army commander then, fought fierce battles with the Lebanese Forces militia headed by Samir Geagea.
Source:Xinhua
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