BEIRUT: Ivorian armed forces intervened Sunday night to disperse a group of young men who were looting a neighborhood known as “little Beirut” in the city of Abidjan following rumors that a Lebanese man was involved in the murder of two Ivory Coast nationals.

“On Sunday, hundreds of angry young men protested in [the] Marcory [district of Abidjan] and looted a number of supermarkets, shops and restaurants in the area, which houses a great number of Lebanese expatriates,” Ali Ajami, Lebanon’s ambassador to Ivory Coast told The Daily Star.

Media reports said that two Ivorian citizens were killed Saturday in what appeared to be a personal dispute. The ambassador said rumors had surfaced that a Lebanese man was involved, but added that there had been no confirmation of this.

After the rumors emerged, hundreds of people headed to the Marcory area where they protested against the killing and looted shops.

“Currently, the situation is tense. The Ivorian armed forces were able to control the protesters but there are still some men in the area,” Ajami said, adding that protesters have looted the neighborhood and have broken into numerous shops and restaurant.

“The damages are minimal. Around ten shops were looted and some cars were destroyed and they have attacked five Lebanese citizens who were in the streets during the protests,” he said.

Earlier this year, more than 90,000 Lebanese expatriates living in Ivory Coast were caught in crossfire between newly elected President Alassane Ouattara’s forces and the forces of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, as the West African nation plunged into civil war following the December elections.

The Lebanese community’s assets and properties became a target of looters and thieves throughout the months of crisis.

However, Ajami stressed that the Lebanese community was not a target.

“There is nothing specifically against the Lebanese, they are not targeted,” he said, adding that he had contacted the Ivorian Interior Ministry and told him that one community should not be blamed for an isolated personal matter

He also said that following the events this year, the Lebanese have been living like any other community.

“The main concern for us now is to remove everyone from the streets and control the area,” the ambassador said, adding that he had advised Lebanese nationals to remain in their homes until the situation is resolved.