Heavy fighting reported in Lebanon

Heavy fighting broke out between pro and anti-government supporters in Lebanon’s central mountains overlooking the capital today sending echoes of gunfire and explosions rolling across Beirut, security officials said.

The clashes between pro-government supporters of Druse leader Walid Jumblatt and Shiite gunmen and their allies started in the mountain town of Aytat around 2pm (12 noon Irish time) involving exchanges of rockets and machine gun fire, the officials said. It later spread to the nearby towns of Kayfoun, Qamatiyeh, Bchamoun and Chouweifat, they added.