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A Lebanese police official says at least three people have been killed and 10 others wounded in clashes between the army and gunmen in a northeastern town near the border with Syria.

The official says those killed include several Lebanese army soldiers who were ambushed by the gunmen in the town of Arsal. He declined to give further details and spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

A senior Lebanese army officer says clashes were under way with gunmen in the area.

Local TV stations say the troops were ambushed Friday after they detained a fugitive in the area.

Residents of Arsal, a Sunni Muslim town, are known to be sympathetic to the Syrian opposition, and arms smuggling into Syria is widespread in the area.