'Four killed' in Lebanon clashes

Cars and tyres were set on fire outside Beirut's Al-Arabiya University [AFP] Four students are reported to have been killed as rival groups of pro- and anti-government students fought a pitched battle at a Beirut university, leaving at least 35 others wounded. Students wielding clubs and throwing rocks attacked each other at the Al-Arabiya University in a southern sector of the Lebanese capital. Al Jazeera correspondent Mike Hanna said the fighting "started with an argument and then got physical". "It was a very intensive and very serious clash on the campus highlighting the political divisions across the country." The fighting began on the main campus and then moved out on to the street, as students set fire to tyres and cars in order to block traffic. Related story Billions pledged in aid to Lebanon Dozens of men wearing construction helmets and carrying makeshift weapons - chair legs, pipes, garden tools, sticks and chains - converged on the university and fought with police. Troops fired into the air to try and break up the crowds and cordoned off the neighbourhood. Military trucks were used to evacuate the streets of civilians trapped by the violence. Sniper claims Some students claimed that during the fighting they came under fire from snipers on the surrounding rooftops. Those involved were said to be followers of the Future Movement led by Saad al-Hariri, the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority leader, and opposition supporters of the Shia Hezbollah movement and its ally Amal. Your Views "Even with the entire world on his side, Siniora will lose if he hasn't got the Lebanese on his side" anonymous, Lebanon Send us your views Television stations run by both camps blamed each other for the violence. In the first of the deaths reported in the city, it was not clear who shot the student in the head. Hezbollah issued a statement urging its supporters to leave the streets around the university while al-Hariri urged his followers to "remain calm and not respond to provocation". Nabih Berri, the parliamentary speaker and leader of Amal, told several Lebanese television stations: "What everyone should do now is halt the strife." "I call upon you once again to channel all your powers towards reconciliation ... towards national unity," he said. The fighting followed widespread unrest in the country earlier this week when the opposition staged a general strike and subsequent fighting left at least six people dead and scores injured. The opposition is seeking veto power in government and early parliamentary elections to topple the cabinet of Fouad Siniora, the Lebanese prime minister. Siniora and al-Hariri have refused to accept the demands. Al-Taamir clash Another clash between troops and armed men, belonging to a group called the Jund al-Sham, in al-Taamir district near Ain al-Helwa camp in southern Lebanon left three people hurt, including a soldier. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that the fighting erupted after the armed men obstructed the troops' deployment in the area. Soldiers opened fire after the armed men threw stones. Witnesses said three people were injured. The violence came as Siniora won pledges of more than $7bn in aid at a donors' conference in Paris to help rebuild Lebanon following the war between Israel and Hezbollah last summer.