– Lebanon was on a knife-edge on Monday . Pro-government gunmen and supporters loyal to Lebanon’s Hezbollah battled with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades in the northern city of Tripoli on Monday. Security sources said six people were wounded when Sunni government supporters in Tripoli’s Bab Tebbaneh district exchanged machine gun and grenade fire with Alawite militiamen Mohsen area. The fighting later gave way to the occasional crack of sniper fire, witnesses said. A security official said three cars with Syrian licence plates came under fire on Monday, leaving three people wounded. Such incidents have raised fears the situation could escalate again against the backdrop of seething hatred between Sunnis who support the ruling bloc and Shiites who back the opposition.The Masnaa border crossing with Syria was also blocked. Such incidents have raised fears the situation could escalate again against the backdrop of seething hatred between Sunnis who support the ruling bloc and Shiites who back the opposition. Sunni Islamist groups in Tripoli loyal to the pro-government on Sunday declared that they were launching their own resistance to defend the country.
At least 36 people had been killed on Sunday in fighting between Hezbollah and its pro-government Druze opponents east of Beirut. A precarious calm prevailed in Beirut, where politicians prepared to meet Arab League mediators. "What has been happening is negotiations by fire," a political source said. "Now everyone is waiting for the Arab committee to come for the political negotiations to start." Officials could not immediately provide casualty figures from other mountain towns where fighting also raged a day earlier.One source said the dead in Sunday’s battles included 17 Hezbollah fighters. Hezbollah-led forces overran several posts held by gunmen loyal to Walid Jumblatt in the Aley district before the Druze leader agreed to hand them over to the army. Jumblatt had authorized Talal Arslan his rival Druze leader, to mediate with Hezbollah. Arsalan said Jumblatt’s men had handed over most of their offices and strongholds in Aley to the army, but said he was still waiting for them to turn in heavy weapons and arms depots. This is what is causing the delay and unrest. He has also suggested that these heavy arms to be handed to his party who in return will hand them,to the Lebaneese Army. The latest fighting in Lebanon, which began on May 7, has killed 81 people and wounded 250.
Former President Amin Gemayel of the pro-government Christian Phalangist Party insisted Monday that the ruling majority will not engage in dialogue with Hezbollah without a pledge that it will stop using its weapons inside the country. Hezbollah has for years vowed its weapons would only be used for resistance against Israel and would never point them toward internal disputes. The events since Wednesday, however, have sharply reduced the group’s credibility as a purely anti-Israeli resistance organization and apparently given more reason for parties seeking to disarm it, according to independent analysts. "They cannot come to the negotiating table with their artillery," Gemayel said, describing Hezbollah’s power gains as an "illusionary victory." that was taken by them which in return has cause the Lebanese situation to explode in certain regions in Lebanon. On the other hand General Aoun has declared that the there will be no fight between the Christians and that the situation is safe in the Christian regions, because of their accord with Hezbollah. He has also added that the Government is the only one that is responsible to the current situation because of the two decision (outlawing Hezbollah communications network and sacking the airport security chief .) He has also declared that the current uncertainty and continuous violence can be solved only by clearly rejecting these 2 decisions and not the uncertainty and hesitation of the government and also the only solution is the government resignation through the Parliament and electing a new national unity government. From another stand Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea declared after visiting Prime Minister Senioura that the government is very unified and calm and standing behind all of their decisions and there is no plans of any backing up . Meanwhile, shops began opening in the capital and more civilians were seen emerging from their homes, though traffic was lighter than usual. Many schools and universities were still closed. A minor clash broke out at dawn between government supporters and supporters allied to the opposition gunmen in the busy Hamra district, security officials said on condition of anonymity, also because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Two cameramen for Al-Jazeera television, who arrived at the scene to cover the shooting, were lightly wounded and briefly hospitalized, the channel said. Most gunmen have withdrawn from Beirut
Lebanese youths inspect the damage to burnt shops after clashes in the Shwayfat area of Mount Lebanon near Beirut May 12, 2008. At least 36 were people were killed in fierce clashes on Sunday between Hezbollah gunmen and supporters of pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt in mountains east of Beirut, security sources said on Monday. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj (LEBANON)
Sunni Muslim gunmen block the main road to Syrian borders in the Masna’a area east of Lebanon May 12, 2008.
A Sunni Muslim gunman loyal to the pro-governemnt talks to journalists during clashes in a street in Tripoli, northern Lebanon May 12, 2008. (Omar Ibrahim/Reuters)
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Syrian workers carry belongings and walk to the Syrian borders after Sunni Muslim gunmen block the road with soil and rocks in the Masna’a area east of Lebanon May 12, 2008. (LEBANON)
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Lebanese youths inspect the damage to burnt shops after clashes in the Shwayfat area of Mount Lebanon near Beirut May 12, 2008. (LEBANON)
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Lebanese women and other Hezbollah supporters shout during a funeral for two of their comrades in the south of Beirut May 12, 2008
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Hezbollah supporters carry the coffin of their comrade during a funeral in the south of Beirut May 12,
A Lebanese Druze man talks on a public phone beside a burning store in Chouweifat, South of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. . (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
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Two Lebanese army soldiers walk a poster of late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri that was placed by fighters loyal to Hariri and the government after storming and setting ablaze the office of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, a secular pro-Syrian group allied with Hezbollah after the clashes of last week in the town of Halba near the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Lebanese security officials say heavy fighting has erupted for a second time in the northern city of Tripoli. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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A Lebanese woman crosses a dirt and rubble barricade as she walks home in Beirut. The White House expressed concern Monday for civilians caught up in fighting between Lebanon’s Western-backed government and Hezbollah forces, and appealed for respect of the nation’s democracy.(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
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Mourners leave a church carrying the coffin of Michael Habib, 44 a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, a secular pro-Syrian group allied with Hezbollah who was killed during clashes with fighters loyal to the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the government last week in the town of Halba, near the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Lebanese security officials say heavy fighting has erupted for a second time in the northern city of Tripoli. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Lebanese soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Lebanon’s army deployed across mountains overlooking the capital Monday , security officials and paramedics said. (AP Photo/Ahmad Omar)
Lebanese soldiers search a man at a checkpoint in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Lebanon’s army deployed across mountains overlooking the capital Monday after at least 11 people were killed in fierce clashes . (AP Photo/Ahmad Omar)
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Shi’ite gunmen take positions during clashes with Druze pro-government fighters in Shwayfat area in Mount Lebanon May 11, 2008. (Issam Kobeisy/Reuters)
Druse women check the damage in a house that was destroyed Sunday during clashes between pro-government supporters of Druse leader Walid Jumblatt and Shiite gunmen in Chouweifat south of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Soldiers deployed across mountains overlooking the Lebanese capital . (AP Photo)
Lebanese soldiers patrol the streets of Chouweifat, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday May 12, 2008, following Sunday clashes between pro-government supporters of Druse leader Walid Jumblatt and Shiite gunmen and their allies. The pictures on the left show Druze victims of Sunday’s fighting. Lebanese soldiers deployed across mountains overlooking the Lebanese capital Monday’
A Druse boy stands in a house that was damaged Sunday during clashes between pro-government supporters of Druse leader Walid Jumblatt and Shiite gunmen in Chouweifat south of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Soldiers deployed across mountains overlooking the Lebanese capital Monday (AP Photo)
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A Druse cleric, looks on in a house that was targeted with shells on Sunday, during clashes between pro-government supporters of Druse leader Walid Jumblatt and Shiite gunmen in Chouweifat, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Soldiers deployed across mountains overlooking the Lebanese capital (AP Photo)
Hezbollah militants carry the coffin of their comrade Hussein Youssef al-Bourji, who died in clashes in Beirut, during his funeral procession in Dahiyeh neighborhood of south Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Lebanese army continued its deployments in Lebanon’s mountains overlooking the capital Monday, aAP via Yahoo! News – May 12 5:26 AM
A Shiite cleric, right, along with Hezbollah militants carry the coffin of their comrade Hussein Youssef al-Bourji, who died in clashes in Beirut, during his funeral procession in Dahiyeh neighborhood of south Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Lebanese army continued its deployments in Lebanon’s mountains overlooking the capital Monday
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An elderly man walks near a sand barrier as Lebanese soldiers patrol the streets in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 12, 2008. Soldiers deployed across mountains overlooking the Lebanese capital
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