A Lebanese army dragnet has nabbed 65 people suspected of involvement in clashes between the Amal and Hizbollah Shiite resistance movements, heightening tensions in the southern village of Anqoun, a flashpoint in their power struggle, reported the Daily Star newspaper on Wednesday.
The village appeared calm, albeit tense, on Tuesday, the day after most arrests were made.
Friction surfaced on Saturday during a town visit by Hizbollah's deputy secretary general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, coupled with reports of a planned attempt on his life.
A Hizbollah source said Tuesday that tensions peaked following a commemoration in the town for Hizbollah's martyrs, said the paper.
Amal and Hizbollah supporters attacked each other with sticks and stones.
Several people were injured, none seriously.
The army restored calm and began the three-day clampdown, which culminated in the arrest of suspected trouble-makers, most of whom belonged to Amal, according to a security source in the village.
The residents of the predominantly Amal village objected to the arrests, said the paper.
On Monday night and Tuesday morning, hundreds of people burned tires and blocked off the town center.
According to the paper, many claimed that some of those arrested were members of neither party – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
