Clashes flare in Lebanon as crisis worsens

Lebanese troops and gunmen exchanged fire in Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday, wounding five people, deepening a political crisis following the assassination of a senior intelligence official, security and medical sources said.

Four people were also killed, including a 9-year-old girl, and 12 wounded in clashes between gunmen in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, the sources said.

The violence heightened fears that the civil war in neighboring Syria could be spreading into Lebanon, upsetting its delicate political balance and threatening to usher in a new era of sectarian bloodshed.

Protesters run away from tear gas during clashes with police outside the Lebanese government offices in Beirut on Sunday. Violence erupted in downtown Beirut on Sunday as protesters tried to storm the offices of Prime Minister Najib Mikati after the funeral of an assassinated intelligence chief, whose death they blame on Syria. [Photo/Agencies]

Lebanon's army said on Monday the nation faced a critical phase after Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, an intelligence chief, and two others were killed and 126 wounded on Oct 19 in a car bombing, which prompted violent protests across the country.

"We call on all political leaders to be cautious when expressing their stances and opinions," said a statement by the army, adding that it would take "decisive measures" to prevent chaos in areas of high tension.

China on Monday condemned the car bomb attack and called for a timely investigation of the incident.

"China is firmly opposed to terrorism in all its forms, and strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Beirut," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a regular news conference on Monday.

"We hope the truth of the incident will be found out as soon as possible," Hong said.

Many politicians have accused Syria of being behind the killing. The opposition has widely blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the attack to kill Hassan.

Opposition leaders and their supporters want Prime Minister Najib Mikati to resign, saying he is too close to Assad and his Lebanese militant ally Hezbollah, which is part of Mikati's government.

Thousands of people had turned out in Beirut's downtown Martyrs' Square for Hassan's funeral on Sunday but that ended in violence, with clashes between security forces and protesters trying to storm the premier's office.

Officers fired into the air and used tear gas to repel the demonstrators after Hassan's funeral, which had been billed as an opportunity to protest against Syrian meddling in Lebanon but the mood quickly turned to anger at Prime Minister Mikati, whose government is dominated by pro-Syria parties.

More than 15 members of the security forces were injured in the clashes with protesters outside the Serail, the prime minister's office, according to a statement on Mikati's website.

During funeral orations for the slain police intelligence chief, angry former premier Fuad Siniora called on Mikati to resign, adding the government was responsible for the death of Hassan.

"Mikati, you cannot stay in your post to cover up this crime," he said. "If you stay, it means you agree with what happened and what will happen."

A policeman said that around 200 "young people headed towards the building in the city center, but security forces blocked them by firing into the air and using tear gas".

Reuters-AFP-Xinhua