Three dead in fresh Lebanon clash

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Aftermath of clashes in mixed Sunni-Shia area

At least three people have been killed in clashes between Lebanese government supporters and opposition supporters in the eastern Bekaa valley.

It is the second time in a week that fierce fighting has erupted in the Saadnayel and Taalbaya villages which have a mixed Sunni-Shia population.

Machineguns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars were heard until dawn.

The pro-government Future movement and the opposition Hezbollah reached a power sharing deal last month.

"The cause of the fighting remains unclear," a military official said, quoted by AFP news agency.

"There was an exchange of fire in mixed areas. We sent in a large force and the situation is now under control," he said.

Four people were also reported wounded in the overnight violence, described as the worst since the Doha accord was signed on 21 May.

Complete solution

The military official accused both sides - the mainly Shia Muslim Hezbollah and the mainly Sunni Muslim Future - of acting "irresponsibly".

"If we don't reach a complete solution, there will always be potential for repeated clashes," the official said.

The Doha agreement brought to an end a violent showdown between rival factions and allowed the divided parliament to elect Michel Suleiman as president after a six-month hiatus.

The deal handed the Iranian- and Syrian-backed opposition wider representation in cabinet and the constitutional power to block decisions by the western- and Saudi-backed government.

However, disputes have continued over the formation of the new cabinet, with the Future movement threatening to withdraw from talks because of the violence.