Judge Abou Ghida files 8 arrest warrants in absentia against fugitives involved in the Abra incidents

The First Military Investigation Magistrate Riad Abou Ghida issued on Wednesday 8 arrest warrants in absentia against fugitives from justice and others involved in the Abra incidents.     

Among the arrest warrants were two filed against Sheikh Ahmad Assir, and former singer Fadel Shaker.              

Fighting in Sidon city began Sunday (23 June) after troops arrested a follower of hardline Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir.             

The army says the cleric's supporters opened fire without provocation on an army checkpoint.                  

Official reports said at least 17 soldiers were killed and 50 were wounded in the fighting while more than 20 of al-Assir's supporters died in the battle, according to a security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to reporters.          

Al-Assir is a virulent critic of the powerful Shiite group Hezbollah group, which along with its allies dominates Lebanon's government.        

He supports rebels fighting to oust Syria's President Bashar Assad.