TRIPOLI, Lebanon, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Days after the Lebanese government placed the city of Tripoli under military control to halt sectarian violence, soldiers arrested 21 suspects, officials said.
A tense calm prevailed Wednesday with shops, schools and universities in safer parts of the city open, Naharnet said.
Despite the deployment of some 600 soldiers and police officers, sporadic gunfire was still heard and soldiers clashed with a group of gunmen, The Daily Star reported.
Soldiers arrested 21 suspects Tuesday, the newspaper said.
In weekend clashes between supporters and opponents of the Syrian regime, 13 people were killed and dozens injured.
The Lebanese government Monday announced the city would be placed under military control for six months to halt the violence and restore calm
Lebanese army chief Gen. Jean Kahwagi said army action would be limited.
"Any security plan the military carries out will remain in the framework of pursuing gunmen and perpetrators and those wanted as per judicial warrants," Kahwagi said.
The main violence occurred in the majority Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh where residents support resistance against the Syrian regime and the predominantly Allawite neighborhood of Jabel Mohsen where residents support Syrian President Bashar Assad.
