BEIRUT - The sounds of gunfire and explosions in northern Lebanon echoed through the streets of Tripoli Friday as fighting between sectarian groups intensified.

Lebanese police say at least one person has been killed and 10 wounded in Friday’s fighting between Sunni and Shi’ite gunmen.

Officials say most of the fighting has been concentrated in the Sunni Bab el-Tabaneh district and the Alawite, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam, neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen.

They says both sides have been firing at each other with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.  Witnesses say some residents have been trying to flee from their homes.

Ongoing clashes in Tripoli have killed at least 14 people since June.

Lebanon formed a unity government two weeks ago, after months of fighting between the Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-backed opposition threatened to descend into civil war.

Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has said one of the government’s most important tasks will be to restore confidence in the political system.

Under the terms of a Qatari-brokered deal signed in May, the Hezbollah-backed opposition has veto power with its 11 seats in Lebanon’s 30-member Cabinet.

Source:  VOA News