A Palestinian man was shot dead during clashes between anti-Syrian Lebanese government supporters and Palestinians close to Hizbullah in Beirut on Sunday, security sources said. According to Reuters, the sources said fighting with sticks and stones had broken out between the two sides over political posters in the Sabra area of Beirut. Shots were fired and a Palestinian was injured. He later died in hospital.
The Future movement led by Saad al-Hariri denied reports by media belonging to the Hizbullah-led opposition that it was behind the shooting. The Lebanese army intervened and ended the skirmish.
Earlier, representatives from Future, Hizbullah and its Shi'ite Amal ally held a joint meeting to discuss ways to defuse the tension. The three groups issued a joint statement calling for calm and stressing the role of the security forces in preserving the peace. The groups also called on the media to refrain from enflaming political and sectarian divisions.
On its part, the military warned against more such clashes and vowed firm action. "The army command warns of the dangerous situation and will act firmly against anyone who tries to destabilize security," a military statement said.
