Clashes between the Lebanese army and Sunni militants in northern Lebanon city of Tripoli killed two people and wounded 11 others on Friday morning, local OTV reported.

Three Lebanese soldiers were among the wounded, while one militant wanted by police was killed, the report said.

A statement of the Lebanese army command said that the clashes erupted on Friday morning when a car carrying a wounded man tried to overpass an army checkpoint and people in the car fired at the army checkpoint.

The army added that the situation returned to normal soon.

The incident took place in Bab-Tebanneh area of Tripoli which is predominantly inhabited by pro-government Sunnis who have fought fierce battles last summer with opposition Alawits inhabitants of Bal Mohsin.

Sunni areas of Tripoli are reported to be a safe haven for fundamentalist groups and terrorist cells operating in the areas.

Two car bombs targeted Lebanese army buses in Tripoli killing over 20 soldiers in last summer. Arrested members of Fattah al- Islam fundamentalist group confessed to carrying the attack against the army.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2008)