Lebanese army deploys troops to Tripoli

TRIPOLI, Lebanon, May 16 (UPI) -- The Lebanese army has deployed to the northern Lebanon city of Tripoli after three days of clashes between backers and foes of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Hundreds of troops, backed by armored vehicles and joined by police, started putting up checkpoints and conducting patrols, The (Beirut) Daily Star reported.

The clashes have pit against each other residents of Bab al-Tabbaneh, who oppose Assad, and those of Jabal Mohsen, who support the Syrian leader.

At least seven people have been killed and 98 others injured in clashes that erupted Saturday night after the controversial arrest of Islamist Shadi Mawlawi, who was charged Monday with belonging to an "armed terrorist group."

In a statement, the Lebanese army said, "The army's presence in Tripoli is to preserve stability and not face residents or clash with them."

The statement said the deployment "affirms that imposition of security is a national need for all Lebanese and that chaos would not be in the interest of anyone."

Religious and political figures who met Sunday and Monday agreed on the importance of the army's presence in the city and the need to get gunmen off the streets.

"Lebanon is at the edge of a volcano," Prime Minister Najib Mikati said.

The army has orders to arrest gunmen and refer them to the Military Tribunal, sources said.