BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese soldiers deployed in several mixed Sunni-Shi'ite streets of Beirut on Saturday and ended sectarian riots that left at least 14 people injured and several cars and shops smashed.
Security sources said followers of Sunni Muslim Saadal-Hariri's Future Trend movement battled supporters of theShi'ite Hezbollah and Amal groups with sticks, knives andstones in Ras al-Nabei, Mazraa and Barboor areas of Beirut.
It was not clear what sparked the night-time clashes buttension has been simmering for weeks. Smaller incidents havebeen reported almost on daily basis.
Hariri's anti-Syrian ruling coalition is locked in a15-month-old power struggle against an opposition led byHezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran.
The political crisis has left Lebanon without a presidentsince November. It has spilled into deadly street clashes onseveral occasions over the past year. Last month seven Shi'iteprotesters were shot dead, mainly by Lebanese troops.
On Saturday, scores of Lebanese soldiers fired into the airto disperse rioters from both sides. At least 14 people, manywith broken bones or cuts, were injured in the fights.
Some media reported both sides exchanged fire in someplaces but security sources said most of the shooting was bytroops and into the air.
(Writing by Nadim Ladki; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
