beirut hardline sunni muslim cleric sentence death lebanon thursday incite attack army supporters protest outside court sheikh ahmad al-assir refuse recognize hear convict part clash erupt amid heighten sectarian tensions 2013 exacerbate war neighbor syria assir rise prominence support mostly sunni insurgents syria condemn backers syrian government include lebanon shi ite muslim hezbollah group lebanese soldier raid mosque complex belong assir june 2013 skirmish supporters opponents southern mediterranean port city sidon army say least 18 soldier die fight assir 's supporters raise fear time sectarian violence spread lebanon reut.rs/2xbmdx6 assir go hide arrest two years late beirut airport try get false passport reject court-appointed lawyer trial delay several time dozens supporters protest outside court beirut sidon thursday court also convict 30 others absentia part violence impose sentence range six months prison death lebanese singer-turned-militant fadel shaker sentence absentia 15 years lebanon carry execution least 10 years lebanon sentence islamist cleric death attack army