LBCI’s Nharkom Said features Tripoli axes leaders in live interview

Ziad Alouki, one of Tripoli's axes leaders said on Thursday that Tripoli's residents are "committed to state institutions," adding that they "are fighting a battle for their existence."

Alouki's comments were made during an interview with LBCI's Nharkom Said TV Show broadcast live from the Lebanese northern city.

For his part, leader of the Riva axis, Jalal al-Dandachi said that they are not affiliated with any party, stressing that they are not "leaders of axes" but leaders of popular committees.

As well, an axis leader from Bab al-Tebanneh, Mohammad Khalaf said that Jabal Mohsen was the first to open fire, adding that  Iran's Revolutionary Guard is backing the Arab Democratic party.

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.

Fighting had re-erupted on Monday 21st October in the northern city between gunmen of rival Lebanese sects where at least 12 people were killed in the latest round of clashes.

The latest battle also wounded more than 60 people, officials said.

Disputes from neighboring Syria's civil war frequently inflame sectarian grievances in Tripoli. These clashes pit gunmen from both the mostly Sunni Bab Tabbaneh district and the Jabal Mohsen district which mostly comprises residents of Syrian President Bashar Assad's Alawite sect, a Shiite Islam offshoot.

Tensions had been mounting since 14 October, when a Lebanese military prosecutor pressed charges against seven men, at least one of whom was from Jabal Mohsen, for their involvement in twin bombings near two Sunni mosques in Tripoli on 23 August that killed 47 people.