Source: Al-Manar TV, 17-9-2008
Two people were killed and three others were injured early Wednesday in a northern Lebanese village after armed clashes broke out between rival Christian clans over a banner, a security official told AFP.
He said the violence in Bsarma, some 10 kilometers from the northern port city of Tripoli, pitted members of Samir Geagea's
Lebanese Forces against members of the Marada party of former minister Suleiman Franjieh.
The Lebanese army immediately intervened and set up checkpoints in the area.
The Lebanese Forces issued a statement on Wednesday that said that during the preparations for the "Lebanese Resistance Martyrs" Mass on September 21, Marada Movement partisans tore down the banners and the invitations, shot at Pierre Ishak, and injured Mansour Tawk, Elie Bou Habib and Michel Michael.
In another statement, the Marada party said that one of its officials, Youssef Franjieh, "was assassinated Wednesday at dawn in a premeditated attack carried out by Lebanese Forces members who sought to hang pictures near the Marada party office in Bsarma."