Four killed in Lebanon near border with Syria

LABWEH, Lebanon // Gunmen killed four people in eastern Lebanon yesterday, including two soldiers, after clashes erupted following the arrest of a Syrian accused of belonging to an Islamist militant group.
The clashes prompted the Lebanese army to pledge "decisive and firm" action to prevent the Syrian conflict spilling over into Lebanon.
The violence began after troops detained Imad Ahmed Jumaa, a Syrian accused of belonging to Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, Al Nusra Front, in the Arsal region of Lebanon by the Syrian border.
The army said that it had detained Mr Jumaa at noon, and security sources and local residents said unidentified gunmen began to surround local army checkpoints shortly afterwards.
Exchanges of fire between the gunmen and troops then broke out, and the militants entered the town of Arsal, storming a police post and killing two residents who tried to block their attack, said security sources and Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).
NNA later said two Lebanese soldiers were killed in attacks on checkpoints, and the army acknowledged "deaths and injuries" among its ranks.
The army warned of the seriousness of the situation in Arsal, a predominantly Sunni town where support for the uprising in Syria runs strong.
"The army will not allow any party to transfer the battle from Syria to its territory [Lebanon]", the army said.
The army also confirmed reports that gunmen had briefly captured soldiers but its forces later freed them.
Local media reported that the gunmen were holding a number of policemen, but there was no immediate confirmation.
The army deployed two helicopters, to the region after the start of the clashes, which were continuing early last night.
Arsal, which is hosting tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, has frequently been the scene of conflict with Lebanese security forces.
Syria's army has also launched regular air raids around Arsal, saying it was targeting rebels who had holed up in the mountains surrounding the town.
* Agence France-Presse