Fighting erupts in northern Lebanon

TRIPOLI, Lebanon, May 13 (UPI) -- Fighting erupted Tuesday in northern Lebanon as supporters of the Western-backed government fought sectarian opposition in Tripoli, officials said.

Al-Alam Satellite Television, citing security officials, said the outbreak of violence began shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday and involved members of the Alawites sect fighting government forces in two Tripoli neighborhoods with machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

The television station said there were no reports of casualties. One person died Monday in similar fighting in the area that resulted in government troops pulling back from their positions in the neighborhoods, Alalam reported.

It said 61 people have died and almost 200 more have been wounded in six days of fighting across Lebanon.