Sectarian clashes rock Lebanese city of Tripoli The northern Lebanese city of Tripoli has been rocked by sectarian clashes between loyalists of Syrian President Bashar Assad and opponents. The country's state news agency reported a soldier and two civilians were killed in battles between Sunni Muslims and Alawites, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam of which the Assad family is a member. Lebanese troops moved in after the exchange of gunfire and grenades broke out late on Saturday night. Ten people were reported injured. The uprising against Assad's rule has exacerbated sectarian and political tensions in Lebanon. Many fear the chaos will eventually cross the border. Syria has long wielded influence in Lebanon. Its troops entered the country after the 1975 civil war, leaving under pressure from the international community nearly 30 years later. More about: Armed conflicts, Bashar al-Assad, Clashes and riots, Lebanon, Syria