The army is deploying to various parts of Tripoli to stop the fighting from spreading

The clashes on Sunday between supporters of the country's Western-backed ruling majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition forced the withdrawal of the Lebanese army from the area.

Fighting began at 4.15 am (0115 GMT) in the Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, northern sectors of Tripoli.

Clashes extended to the al-Qobbe zone in the east of Tripoli where families could be seen fleeing the district.
 
Twenty-one of the wounded in Bab al-Tabbaneh and al-Qobbe were taken to the Islamic Hospital of Tripoli, a security official said. One of the wounded was suffering a severe wound to the head.

Three other people were wounded in clashes at Jabal Mohsen but could not immediately be taken to hospital.

It is not clear how the fighting began but tension has been high in recent weeks between the Bab al-Tabbaneh district and Jabal Mohsen.
  
Political stalemate

The violence took place amid stalled efforts by Fouad Siniora, the prime minister, to form a new government of national unity following a breakthrough deal last month to end a long-running crisis that had brought the country to the brink of civil war.

The deal, brokered in Doha, Qatar, led to the election of Michel Sleiman, the former army chief, as president.

The accord also called for the formation of a cabinet in which the opposition will have veto power over key decisions as well as a new electoral law.

Khodr said: "Despite the Doha agreement, political wrangling has been continuing.

"A lot of observers believe as long as there is no governmental structure, how do you expect reconciliation in the streets? Therefore, Lebanon's problems have not really been solved."

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