Lebanon clashes: Violence in Beirut among Syria rivals Published duration 23 March 2014

image copyright Reuters image caption Earlier deadly clashes in Tripoli in northern Lebanon sparked protests urging calm

Fresh clashes have erupted in Lebanon's capital Beirut among supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Lebanese troops were deployed after a number of casualties were reported in a predominantly Sunni Muslim area.

The clashes come after more than a week of factional violence in the northern city of Tripoli that has left 25 dead.

The fighting there is between supporters of Syria's rebels and those backing Mr Assad's Alawite sect.

media caption Cars and buildings in Beirut were left riddled with bullet holes

Mr Assad has been fighting a three-year uprising against his rule. More than 100,000 have been killed since the conflict began.

Sunday's fighting broke out before dawn.

The state-run National News Agency quoted Shaker Birjawi, head of the pro-Assad Arab Movement Party, as saying four of his followers were wounded.

The army deployed troops to the area and the clashes appear to have decreased.

They follow more than a week of violence in Tripoli.

Battles there have raged between members of the predominantly Sunni district of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Muhsin, which is populated mainly by Alawites, the heterodox sect of President Assad,

The war in Syria has exacerbated tensions between the two districts in the northern port city.