Beirut  - At least two people were killed and scores wounded in a bomb blast that rocked an apartment building in the northern city of Tripoli early Saturday, police reported.

Police said the blast struck the entrance to a building at Syria Street in the Tabbaneh district.

Ambulances, sirens wailing, rushed to evacuate casualties from the building, and rescuers were facing difficulties due to sniper fire targeting the streets, according to police.

Medical sources said most of the wounded were children, women and old men.

Gunmen also took to the streets in Tabbaneh after snipers in neighboring Baal Mohsen opened fire at the district, police said.

Tripoli MP Mustafa Alloush said the situation was "very tense" and criticized the army for "not fully practicing its role."

Last week, Tripoli was the scene of bloody clashes between the pro-majority Tabbaneh and opposition-backed Baal Mohsen, in which 10 people were killed and 55 wounded. (dpa)