Army enforces calm after five killed and dozens injured in sectarian clashes

Описание: (5 Dec 2012)
1. Mid of Lebanese army tanks, AUDIO: gunfire
2. Mid of smoke rising in pro-Assad Alawite neighbourhood of Jabal Mohsen
3. Mid of bloodstained matting
4. Mid of bullet holes in a wall and damage to building
5. Man running along deserted street
6. Armoured personnel carriers driving along street
7. Various of a wounded man being treated in hospital

STORYLINE:
Gunmen loyal to opposite sides in neighbouring Syria's civil war battled in the streets of northern Lebanon on Wednesday, with the toll from two days of fighting up to at least five killed and 45 wounded, officials said.
In the city of Tripoli, the Lebanese army fanned out across restive districts to try and calm the fighting, and soldiers patrolled the streets in armoured personnel carriers and manned checkpoints.
They had given fighters from both sides a deadline of 6 a.m. local time (04:00 GMT) to withdraw from the streets, and threatened to return fire whatever its source.
Authorities also closed major roads because of sniper fire.
The fighting in Tripoli pits the Sunni neighbourhood of Bab Tabbaneh, which supports Syria's rebels, and the adjacent Alawite neighbourhood of Jabal Mohsen, which supports Assad.
Syrian rebels are predominantly Sunni, whereas Assad and his inner circle are dominated by Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.
The fighting comes at a time of deep uncertainty in Syria, with rebels closing in on President Bashar Assad's seat of power in Damascus.
The Syria conflict has spilled over into Turkey, Israel and Jordan over the past 20 months, but Lebanon is particularly vulnerable to getting sucked in.
The countries share a complex web of political and sectarian ties and rivalries that are easily inflamed.
Lebanon, a country plagued by decades of strife, has been on edge since the uprising in Syria began, and deadly clashes between pro- and anti-Assad Lebanese groups have erupted on several occasions.
Tensions in Tripoli have been mounting since last week, when reports emerged that at least a dozen Lebanese Sunni fighters were killed inside Syria, apparently after they joined the rebellion against Assad.
Security officials said at least five people have been killed and 45 wounded since Tuesday.
Syria's uprising began with peaceful protests in March 2011 and later escalated into a civil war that the opposition says has killed more than 40,000 people.

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