Lebanese troops reinforced patrols and checkpoints Friday following a nighttime curfew imposed by authorities seeking to quell escalating clashes between factions supporting the government and Hizbullah protesters trying to topple it.
The order to clear the streets came after rival groups turned a university campus into a battle zone on Thursday with at least three people killed. Army officers reported snipers opening fire during the melee, the AP reported. Government officials and Hizbullah's chief, Hassan Nasrallah, appealed for calm and allowed security forces to enforce the first blanket curfew in the Lebanese capital in 11 years.
The rioting between rival Sunni and Shiite Muslims was at a level not seen in Beirut since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.
Walid Jumblatt, a senior pro-government politician, called on speaker of parliament to reconvene lawmakers in a bid to restore dialogue between the two sides. "We are witnessing scenes that remind us of the civil war," said Speaker Nabih Berri, urging restraint on both sides. "We must go back to talks. There is no other solution."
Security forces planned close watch over the planned funerals for the victims of the clashes at Beirut Arab University for any sign they could spark another round of unrest. Nearly 170 others were wounded in the clash. All schools and universities were ordered closed Friday by the education minister. Classes were scheduled to resume Monday.
