BEIRUT, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and four wounded as clashes renewed between pro-government and opposition supporters early Tuesday in east Lebanon's Bekaa Valley towns of Saadnayel and Taalbaya, local An-Nahar daily reported Tuesday.

    A school teacher, who was standing at the balcony of her apartment at the time of the clashes, and a man and his son who were driving their car when it got caught in the fighting which involved machine gun fire and rockets, were killed.

    The cause of the clashes remain unclear, with local media giving various accounts. Al-Mustaqbal pro-government daily said that fighting erupted after a quarrel between Hezbollah and Amal fighters on one hand, and Lebanese army soldiers on the other.

    Al-Safir daily said that the clashes erupted between pro-government and opposition supporters.

    The Bekaa area has been the scene of fierce clashes for the past weeks after a week of clashes in Beirut on May 7 between pro-government and opposition fighters.

    Tuesday's clashes broke out around 3:30 am local time (0030 GMT)and stopped hours after the Lebanese army forced a ceasefire according to voice of Lebanon radio.

    Schools and businesses were reported to be close Tuesday for fear of renewed fighting in the area.