Beirut - One person was killed and nine others, including three soldiers, were wounded in an incident Friday that began when a car failed to stop at a military checkpoint in the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanese army sources said.

"Lebanese troops opened fire as the Renault 18 failed to abide by orders to stop at the army checkpoint," one army source said.

According to initial reports by the army, the driver of the car, who was wounded, and the other two men who were in the vehicle were drunk at the time. All were arrested.

Almost simultaneously, a man identified as Ahmed al-Zoubi was killed when he fired at the army checkpoint, prompting the troops to return fire.

Al-Zoubi was immediately killed and around eight others, among them three soldiers, were wounded in the incident, which took place in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabanneh neighbourhood.

The army statement denied earlier news reports that said clashes raged with militants as Lebanese troops launched a major raid in Bab al-Tabanneh.

Tripoli witnessed heavy clashes in August between followers loyal to the western-backed government and others loyal to the opposition, headed by Hezbollah. Some 82 people were killed in various clashes, which engulfed the area of Bab al Tabanneh and Jabal Mohsen.

Since then, the Lebanese army has worked to contain security breaches in the area.

The incident against the army checkpoint comes on the eve of Lebanon's Independence Day, which falls on November 22. (dpa)