Five U.N. troops injured in scuffle with Hezbollah in Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Three unarmed U.N. observers and two armed peacekeepers were hurt in scuffles with Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon Thursday, the U.N. peacekeeping force commander said.

Tensions are high in the area along Israel's northern border, the scene of several clashes recently between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. There are fears the area could become a second front in the Middle East violence, in addition to the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation in the West Bank.

The scuffle with Hezbollah forces broke out after an unarmed U.N. observer patrol reached the village of Mari, near the disputed Chebaa Farms area.

The observers -- from Ireland, Norway and France -- were confronted by Hezbollah gunmen who would not let them pass, a U.N. observer force officer said.