Armed clash south of Lebanese capital Beirut leaves two dead

At least two people were killed and three others wounded late on Thursday in an armed clash south of Beirut, a Lebanese security source said.

The fighting erupted between followers of the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement and others who belong to the Muslim Sunni sect, the source said.

It began when followers of Hezbollah tried to hang up a religious banner in the area of Khaldeh, 12 kilometres south of Beirut, angering some Khaldeh residents who support Sunni clergyman Sheikh Omar Ghosn, the source added.

Residents in the area said machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades were fired. Several shops in the area were set on fire.

Dozens of army troops were deployed in the area to contain the fighting. At least four people, including two Syrian nationals, were arrested.