Beirut-Sana
The Lebanese army announced the arrest of 9 people in connection with what happened in the Tayouneh area of the capital, Beirut, where gunmen from the Lebanese Forces Party attacked demonstrators heading to the Palace of Justice.
The army said in a statement today, "While a number of protesters headed to the Adliya area for a sit-in, there was a dispute and an exchange of fire occurred in the Tayouneh area, which led to the killing of a number of citizens and the wounding of others.
The statement added, "The army raided a number of places in search of the shooters, and arrested nine people from both sides, including a Syrian, and investigations were launched with the detainees under the supervision of the competent judiciary."
The statement pointed out that the army command made contacts with the concerned parties on both sides to contain the situation and prevent a slide towards sedition, reiterating its non-tolerance with any armed while the army units continue to deploy in the area to prevent renewed clashes.
Six Lebanese were killed and about 60 others were wounded in an ambush carried out by the Lebanese Forces party militants against unarmed demonstrators who set out from Tayouneh roundabout towards the Palace of Justice to demand justice in the Beirut port explosion case.
