Twelve dead in Sidon clashes

Lebanese soldiers in a second day of fighting with Sunni Muslim gunmen in the southern port city of Sidon on Monday.

At least 12 soldiers have been killed since clashes broke out on Sunday, after security forces detained a follower of hardline Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Assir.

His supporters retaliated by firing at a government check point.

A Lebanese security source said a ceasefire had been negotiated between the two sides on Monday, but that the army remained on the streets.

Tensions were already high in the area following violence last week between Sunni fighters who support the rebel movement in Syria and Shi'ite forces backing Bashar al-Assad's Alawite government.

Hezbollah's decision to support Assad's military has only added pressure here.