Judge Sawan interrogates suspect involved in the Abra clashes

Military investigating Judge Fadi Sawan interrogated on Thursday an arrested man involved in the fighting that took place in Sidon's Abra alongside Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir against the Lebanese army.

Charges also include terrorist acts and arms smuggling including the transfer of explosives into Syria.

The arrestee has accompanied Sheikh al-Assir to Syria and was captured after the fall of the security complex in Abra.

Judge Sawan closed the investigation and referred it to the Military Prosecution to examine it and act accordingly.

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.

The 2 day fighting between troops and armed supporters of al-Assir have transformed the city, which had been largely spared the violence plaguing border areas near Syria, into a combat zone.