Suleiman calls for arrest of perpetrators of clashes

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Lebanese President Michel Suleiman called on the security forces to arrest the perpetrators of the overnight bloody clashes in Beirut’s Borj Abi Haidar neighborhood.

Suleiman also warned of the consequences of any new fighting “under any circumstances.”

He called on the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces to “respond immediately” to any attempt to stir tension.

The street clashes last night between Hezbollah and the radical Syrian-backed Al-Ahbash shook the Lebanese capital.

There were conflicting reports on how many were killed . Some reports said four people were killed and some said 2 , but several were wounded .

Among the fatalities were Mohammed Fawaz, a senior Hezbollah official in the area, and Al Ahbash official Ahmad Fawaz Omeirat, the son of a Beirut Mukhtar.

Other reports also said that Fawaz’s bodyguard Ali Jawad was also killed.

Defense Minister Elias Murr suspended permits for carrying firearms across all Lebanese areas to make sure the fighting does not spread to the rest of the country.

Army

UNIFIL delivered to the Lebanese army 39 military vehicles. Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta said that UNIFIL looks forward to working side by side with the army.

Following a call for Tehran’s help from Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmed Vahidi said Iran is ready to offer military aid to Lebanon.

A man checks damages to a building belonging Al-Ahbash group, a day after street gun battles between Al-Ahbash and Hezbollah, in Beirut's residential area of Borj Abu Haidar, Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010
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