Sunni cleric who supported Syrian uprising slain in Lebanon

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AMMAN, Jordan — A Sunni Muslim cleric known to support the uprising in neighboring Syria was slain Sunday in northern Lebanon, raising tensions in the area following clashes last week in the city of Tripoli that left at least 11 people dead.

There were unconfirmed reports from village residents in the area that a car carrying Sheik Ahmed Abdel Wahed was fired upon as it was leaving a military checkpoint. The cleric and another passenger died.

In a statement, the Lebanese army expressed “deep regrets for the death of the two victims.” According to the statement posted online, ‘Sheik Ahmed Abdel Wahed and his companion were wounded with bullets and died shortly after due to their wounds.”

The army formed a committee of high-ranked officers to investigate the incident, according to the website. A military judge, Saqr Sagr, was dispatched to the north to gather evidence and interrogate soldiers from the checkpoint.

In Tripoli, people angered by the cleric’s death set tires on fire in protest. In several villages in the Akkar region to the north, residents blocked roads.

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--Rima Marrouch