The Mufti of Tripoli and North Lebanon Sheikh Malek Shaar declared that the army deployed Thursday "in all districts."

He said the city, Lebanon's second largest after the capital Beirut, is "calm and the population is gradually retaining normal life."

Talking to reporters in Tripoli after a series of meetings with spiritual and political leader, Sheikh Shaar said Shaar blamed the recent clashes on a "third party" that he did not identify.

"There is no problem between the two sides," the Mufti said in reference to the Sunni-populated Bab Tabbaneh and the Alawite district of Baal Mohsen.

Sheikh Shaar described the army deployment as "serious this time."

The decision to deploy the army with orders to deal firmly and strongly with trouble makers was worked out by president Michel Suleiman, Premier-designate Fouad Saniora and Mustaqbal Movement leader Sheik Saad Hariri.

"The army would open up at the sources of fire," Sheikh Shaar said.