Lebanese soldiers and Internal Security Forces members patrolled areas of the northern port city of Tripoli on Tuesday to enforce a truce after fierce sectarian clashes killed ten people.

Civilians who had fled returned to the densely-populated Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh, Jabal Mohsen and Al-Qobbeih, but many shops remained closed, an AFP correspondent said.

Residents took stock of the damage in the areas, where several homes and a petrol station were burnt down in the two days of fighting that erupted on Sunday.

The clashes threatened to derail an agreement reached in Doha last month between rival politicians to end an 18-month political crisis in Lebanon.

Fighters who took part in the bloody fighting that also wounded more than 52 people disappeared from the streets after army and police reinforcements moved in on Monday afternoon.

The combatants traded heavy machine-gun fire, mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades during the battle, leading to a warning from the army.

“We will use force if needed to end all armed presence in the combat zones where we are sending reinforcements following an accord between the warring sides calling for a ceasefire,” an army spokesman said.

The security forces were on guard for any outburst of violence at funeral ceremonies for three people killed in the predominantly Alawite district of Jabal Mohsen later on Tuesday.

Fighting raised fears of a nationwide security breakdown amid stalled efforts by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to form a national unity government in line with the Qatari-brokered deal in May.

The accord led to the election of Army Commander Michel Sleiman as president, ending a six-month vacuum in the top job, but rival politicians have continued to bicker over the distribution of key portfolios in the new government.

-AFP/NOW Staff