at the military checkpoint. The Lebanese troops opened fire as the car failed to heed orders to stop, wounding one person, the state-run National News Agency ( NNA) .reported .
Soon after the shootout, which took place around 6:30am in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabanneh neighborhood, angry protestors set the Renault on fire.
They also blocked the main Tripoli-Akkar highway with burning tires, NNA said.
Another crowd, meanwhile, opened fire on the army checkpoint, prompting troops to return fire.
A man identified as Ahmed al-Zoubi was killed in the shootout and several people were wounded, including a man by the name of Abu Da'aas.
The bottom line is that one person was killed and 9 were wounded , including the 3 soldiers
Tripoli's Bab al Tabbanah and Jabal Mohsin neighborhoods witnessed a lot of violence last summer , but the local dignitaries led by Mufti Malik al Shaar worked out a reconciliation agreement to end the violence .
In 2007 the army fought Fatah al Islam militants for 106 days in Nahr el bared Palestinian refugee camp. The battle resulted in the death of hundreds from the army and the militants , but the army won and the militants were disbanded . There is concern that the militants are regrouping as the recent events have shown and once again they are trying to target the army
Friday
22:00 Sen. Hillary Clinton, New York Federal Reserve President Tim Geithner and former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson have all accepted posts in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, according to media reports. Clinton accepted the position of secretary of state, the New York Times reported. Richardson is in line to become Commerce secretary and Geithner was picked to be Treasury secretary, NBC News reported
20:30 Nayla Tueni managing Director of An Nahar newspaper and daughter of the former MP Gibran Tueni is evaluating the possibility of running for elections. Within few days she will decide whether to run or not in the 2009 parliamentary elections . If she decides to run she will make the announcement on the anniversary of her father's assassination : December 12 . Gibran was assassinated on December 12, 2005 and Syria was accused of being behind his murder.
During her father's funeral Nayla said : I am the daughter of a martyr, and a martyr never dies.....In the names of all those martyrs I solemnly swear our freedom will never die...My father is not dead! He will live through me...."
20:20: President Suleiman addressed the nation: Let’s move from the reality of power to that of the state. We have worked on reactivating the national dialogue over the past months. Young people can question and hold us accountable; we are in a democratic system that allows this and allows those it trusts to serve its independence. Independence is not a passing revolution but rather a continued work of faith and struggle. Independence is strengthened by moving away from corruption. Independence is not well established unless citizens are independent from poverty, this calls on government to pay attention to economic, educational and health issues. Independence is in strengthening our military capabilities. Independence means the judiciary is independent
19:40 : Defense Minister Elias el-Murr received U.S. State Department delegation headed by Nicole Chapman that heads Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Egypt bureaus at the State Department.
19:22 PM Fouad Siniora calls UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the Ghajar village issue.
18:00 French PM Fillon departed from Beirut airport after meeting privately with PM Siniora
16:30 : Lebanese Forces: We did not name nor did we adopt any candidate in Jazzine, any decision in this regard will be issued by the executive authority at the appropriate time.
15:50 : French PM Fillon and accompanying delegation inspected the French battalion’s headquarters working under UNIFIL at Bint Jbeil.
15:00 :Awad Hiding at Jund al-Sham Headquarters Palestinian security forces carried out patrols across some districts of Ain el-Helweh refugee camp including what is known as the “emergency quarter,” where Jund el-Sham’s headquarters is located.
14:35 Former Phalange Party leader Karim Pakradouni from Rabiyeh: Aoun is the first Arab Christian leader.
14:30 Speaker Berri announced he will hold a legislative session on Wednesday.
14:05 Geagea; I am against carrying arms and specially in Batroun and Koura in order to preserve civil peace and national unity and to prepare for the parliamentary elections . He also said the unity of March 14 Forces is real
13:45 Minister Murr discussed with his French counterpart the military relations and the role of UNIFIL
13:18 MPs Kabbarah and Jisr called for investigation of the Bab al Tabbanah incident that took place this morning
13:15 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea meets a Phalange party delegation in Maarab.
13:10 Minister Bahia Hariri: Only the Lebanese themselves can make Lebanon a strong country they can be proud of
13:00 MP Saad Hariri conveyed a message to Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel on the occasion of the anniversary of his son’s assassination: We promise the Lebanese to remain loyal to his martyrdom.
12:40 Berri to students: Wrong he who believes that March 8 or March 14 forces will achieve a sweeping victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Winning is not going to be by a big margin. The electoral law of 1960 is beneficial for both parties, although it was not ideal. Lebanese emigrants should participate in the parliamentary elections in 2013;
12:30 ANB: Fillon telephoned Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and invited him to visit France on behalf of President Nicolas Sarkozy.
12:10 Berri meets students in Parliament.
12:05 FPM leader Gen. Michel Aoun meets the President’s political advisor Nazem al-Khoury.
12:04 Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said during Friday prayers that European officials favor Israel’s interests and security. He called on the people of Lebanon to consider their national, Arab and Islamic interests without paying attention to the visitors’ views. He also said that the defense strategy should be discussed during dialogue talks without media coverage
11:45 MP Saad Hariri to Future TV: Betting on a change in France’s policy is wrong.
11:18 Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri meets Fillon and French Ambassador to Lebanon Andre Parant at his office in Nejmeh Square.
10:18 Fillon: Several agreements for cooperation on economy, culture and defense have been signed. Lebanon achieved a unique economic growth despite the global financial crisis. Normalization of Lebanon-Syria ties is in the general interest and we hope embassies would be open before year’s end.
We are ready to provide technical assistance in the upcoming parliamentary elections if requested by the government.
9:55 PM Fouad Siniora during a joint press conference with Fillon at the end of their meeting: France has always stood beside Lebanon, particularly in Paris 1 and 2 and 3. Lebanon has made significant headway over the past four years.
9:20 French PM Francois Fillon visited former Premier Rafik Hariri’s graveyard in downtown Beirut and placed a wreath on him tomb.
9:15am Lebanese army command vows in a communique not to be lenient on security violators.
8:15 NBN TV: Two killed and four wounded in Bab Tabanneh clashes.
8:00 OTV: Clashes between Lebanese army troops and wanted persons in Bab Tabanneh leave one wanted person killed and 11 wounded, 3 of them soldiers.
7:45 Clashes between Lebanese troops and militants in Tripoli.
7:40 The Lebanese army launches a raid in Tripoli’s Bab Tabanneh neighborhood.
Thursday
21:00 Crude oil dropped below $48 /barrel
20:05: Fillon following his meeting with Saniora at Grand Serail: I met President Suleiman and presented France’s appreciation to him for leading national dialogue. I will meet Speaker Berri tomorrow and express France satisfaction that Lebanon’s parliament has returned to work now. We are happy for Syrian-Lebanese relations, we await the opening of embassies in both countries prior to year’s end in addition to dealing with the issue of missing Lebanese and jailed Lebanese in Syria. We will present Lebanon with 125 million Euros to support medium and small enterprises that fell victim to the July 2006 war . The growth in Lebanese economy is 6 % while in Europe it does not reach 5 %. I will visit tomorrow the French forces deployed with UNIFIL, in affirmation of France’s commitment to international resolutions.
7:05: pm: PM Siniora currently holding a meeting with visiting French PM Fillon at Grand Serail.
17:15 Crude oil drops below $50 / barrel for the first time since 2005
16:50 Harir and Jumblatt discussed over the phone the domestic and regional situation including the issue of reconciliations
16:30 Aridi : we will soon start executing the contracts for the bridges in Tripoli and we have cancelled the contract with the contractor of the Aboudieh road
16:15 Fillon left Baabda palace without issuing any statement or talking to the reporters
15:30 French Prime Minister Francois Fillon is currently meeting with Lebanese president Suleiman and PM Siniora in Baabda
15:15 Lebanese Forces asked Pierre Dhaher to stop using LBC for his media attacks against them
15:00 Jumblatt declares from Washington: we will be victorious in the parliamentary elections and we will continue with our struggle
14:45 Gemayel : we hope that the Batroun dispute will lead to reconciliation as soon as possible
14:42 Suleiman : we will not allow the return of foreign forces , neither from the Israeli door nor any other door