BEIRUT: Law classes at the Lebanese University were suspended Tuesday following clashes involving over 200 Lebanese and Syrian students.

The altercation started at around 11 a.m. at LU’s campus in Hadath and lasted until noon, after the Lebanese Army was called in to intervene.

“Clashes are usual between Syrian and Lebanese students but today was the biggest clash as more than 200 students quarreled with each other,” a security guard, who declined to be identified, told The Daily Star.

A security source said the clash started after Syrian Consul in Beirut Ghassan Anjarini visited the campus to discuss recent tension between Lebanese and Syrian students.

Several students, who all wished to remain anonymous, blamed students supporting the Amal Movement political party for the dispute.

“Lebanese students, usually supporters of the Amal Movement, often harass Syrian students, physically abuse them and sometimes take their money by force,” said one student.

The students confirmed that disputes occurred on a regular basis at the LU Faculty of Law.

“It’s not surprising to hear about another clash in the Faculty of Law,” another student said, also blaming pro-Amal Movement students for the clashes. “It’s either Amal Movement [supporters] fighting between each other or with Hezbollah. Now it’s with the Syrians,” the student added.

Amal’s Office of Youth and Sports, however, dismissed claims of Amal students mistreating Syrian students and asked for the LU to investigate and punish the individuals involved.

Dozens of Syrian students demonstrated in front of their embassy in Beirut’s Hamra district Monday, denouncing what they described as discrimination against them.

Syrians are often attracted to study in Lebanon, where the bar for entry to some majors is lower. While in Syria a set average is required for certain courses, such as medicine and engineering, a passing grade in the baccalaureate official exams will suffice for any major at the state-owned LU, where the majority of Syrian students are registered.

Other Lebanese students blamed Syrian students for Tuesday’s standoff. “Syrian students are verbally harassing Lebanese girls around the faculty,” a student said. The student said harassment was “one of the main causes for the clashes that have been going on in the university.”

A police officer, speaking anonymously, said no one was wounded. The officer blamed Lebanese students for the fight, accusing them of acting in a condescending way toward non-Lebanese students. “They believe that just because others are Syrians or from different nationalities they have authority over them,” the officer said, adding he didn’t believe Tuesday’s clashes were “politically oriented.” – With additional reporting by Ashraf Monzer