Caretaker PM Mikati reiterates support to LAF measures in Tripoli

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati voiced on Sunday his relief over the measures adopted by the Lebanese army in the city of Tripoli, reiterating the support of all Lebanese leaders to the military institution.

In a statement, Mikati called on the army command to increase its measures in Tripoli to prevail security in the city.

The rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen exchanged gunfire on Friday.

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.

The caretaker PM urged the city's dignitaries to ease down their provocative rhetoric "amid a period filled with challenges."

Mikati described the political situation in the city as "alarming", calling on all Lebanese factions to resume dialogue and to abide by the dissociation policy.

Lebanon is deeply divided into supporters and opponents of the regime in Syria as the conflict entered now in its third year.