Five killed in Lebanon clashes

At least five people were killed Friday and 52 others injured in ongoing clashes in Tripoli in Lebanon, a security source told Xinhua.

The clashes began between the two rival Sunni neighbourhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Alawite Jabal Mohsen Monday.

The army used heavy machine guns in response to firing and flares and has been patrolling the Syria Street dividing the two neighbourhoods, the source said.

The fighting broke out Monday evening following Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's appearance on Lebanon based al-Mayadeen TV in an interview.

Bab al-Tabbaneh's Sunni inhabitants support the rebellion against the Assad regime while Jabal Mohsen, a majority Alawite neighbourhood, backs the Syrian president.