BEIRUT, May 22 -- Seven Lebanese soldiers were injured Tuesday in clashes with wanted individuals in the northern port city of Tripoli, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The clashes erupted as a Lebanese army patrol was chasing a wanted person, identified as Jihad Baltaji, and his companions, the report said.

A security source told Xinhua that, during the chase, Baltaji and his companions opened fire on the patrol and took refuge in the caretaker Labor Minister Mohammad Kabbara's office.

The source added that the wanted individuals, supporters of Kabbara, threw three hand grenades on the army patrol.

The exchange of gunfire led to the closure of all the shops in the city.