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| Christian rivals clash in Lebanon | Christian rivals clash in Lebanon |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| A gunfight between rival Christian political groups in northern Lebanon has left two people dead and three wounded, security officials say. | A gunfight between rival Christian political groups in northern Lebanon has left two people dead and three wounded, security officials say. |
| The clash between the anti-Syrian Lebanese Forces group and the pro-Syrian Marada group was triggered by a disagreement over hanging banners. | The clash between the anti-Syrian Lebanese Forces group and the pro-Syrian Marada group was triggered by a disagreement over hanging banners. |
| On Tuesday, leaders of 14 of Lebanon's rival factions started talks aimed at solving deep divisions in the country. | On Tuesday, leaders of 14 of Lebanon's rival factions started talks aimed at solving deep divisions in the country. |
| The army has now set up checkpoints around Bsarma where the clash occurred. | The army has now set up checkpoints around Bsarma where the clash occurred. |
| Violent incidents across Lebanon in recent days have raised fears of a return to sectarian violence that left at least 65 people dead in May, correspondents say. | Violent incidents across Lebanon in recent days have raised fears of a return to sectarian violence that left at least 65 people dead in May, correspondents say. |
| One supporter from each of the Lebanese Forces (LF) group and Marada were killed, reports say, while the injured were a policeman and two LF members. | One supporter from each of the Lebanese Forces (LF) group and Marada were killed, reports say, while the injured were a policeman and two LF members. |
| Marada, led by the pro-Syrian leader Suleiman Franjieh, is allied to the Shia-led Hezbollah. LF is led by former rightwing warlord Samir Geagea, who belongs to the Western-backed alliance led by Sunni politician Saad Hariri. | Marada, led by the pro-Syrian leader Suleiman Franjieh, is allied to the Shia-led Hezbollah. LF is led by former rightwing warlord Samir Geagea, who belongs to the Western-backed alliance led by Sunni politician Saad Hariri. |
| LF supporters had been hanging banners in Bsarma village in preparation for their annual Martyrs Mass ceremony on Sunday. | LF supporters had been hanging banners in Bsarma village in preparation for their annual Martyrs Mass ceremony on Sunday. |
| The fighting comes as rival factions are beginning a new dialogue effortSecurity officials said a banner had been pulled down and the shooting started after Lebanese Forces members returned to display it again. | The fighting comes as rival factions are beginning a new dialogue effortSecurity officials said a banner had been pulled down and the shooting started after Lebanese Forces members returned to display it again. |
| Leaders at Tuesday's inaugural National Dialogue conference agreed to work towards a national defence strategy for Lebanon, one of the most divisive issues being the fate of Hezbollah's weapons. | |
| A statement after the three-hour meeting chaired by President Michel Suleiman said the next session would be on 5 November. In the meantime, Mr Suleiman will mediate bilateral talks between the rival groups. | A statement after the three-hour meeting chaired by President Michel Suleiman said the next session would be on 5 November. In the meantime, Mr Suleiman will mediate bilateral talks between the rival groups. |
| The Doha agreement in May which ended the most serious inter-factional fighting, but violence has persisted between sectarian groups in Tripoli and the Bekaa valley, mainly between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and pro-Syrian Alawites. | The Doha agreement in May which ended the most serious inter-factional fighting, but violence has persisted between sectarian groups in Tripoli and the Bekaa valley, mainly between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and pro-Syrian Alawites. |