REPORT: Life gradually returns to the streets of Tripoli

             
The northern city of Tripoli has not yet recovered from the violent clashes witnessed over the past week, even if the streets relatively far from the conflict axes started to regain normal activity.               

This as activists from civil society and non-governmental organizations, as well as the Faihat Union of Municipalities and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in the North and Tripoli, kicked off on Thursday afternoon a rally which crossed several streets in the city of Tripoli, arriving to Tripoli’s Serail where a festival was held and which included speeches delivered by officials concerning the latest events that took place in the city.

The protesters raised banners condemning violence and its repercussions on Tripoli, and calling for the “disarmament of the gunmen in the city”.

Clashes erupted in Tripoli on Sunday the 19th of May between pro-Syrian regime supporters in the predominantly Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen and pro-revolution fighters in the Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh leaving at least 30 persons killed, including 3 LAF members, and more than 300 others wounded.

Clashes between the two areas stretch back to decades, but the recent round of fighting was the heaviest.

On Sunday the 26th of May, clashes eased significantly, while sporadic gunshots were still heard occasionally as Lebanese Armed Forces deployed in al-Kobbeh and Rifa regions, and headed towards Syria Street.

The port city of Tripoli has long been a stronghold of Sunni Islamists in northern Lebanon.But the city has become increasingly volatile in recent months due to the civil war in neighboring Syria, where the Sunni majority is leading a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.


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