He said the violence in Bsarma, some 10 kilometers (six miles) from the northern port city of Tripoli, pitted members of the Lebanese Forces, an anti-Syrian movement, against members of the Marada party of pro-Syrian politician Suleiman Franjieh.

The Lebanese army immediately intervened and set up checkpoints in the area.

The clashes broke out after Marada members tried to prevent a banner being put up for a ceremony September 21 commemorating the Lebanese Forces.

"The Lebanese Forces had put up the banner the day before and it was taken down and they came back overnight to display it again," the official said.

The clashes took place amid heightened security concerns because of various incidents in recent days across Lebanon that have raised fears of a return to the sectarian violence that left at least 65 people dead in May and brought the country close to civil war.

They also came as Lebanon's rival factions on Tuesday launched reconciliation talks aimed at resolving their differences.