BEIRUT. - It has been a week since Armenian populated district of Beirut - Bourj Hammoud has drawn the attention of Lebanese press and politicians. The reason is growing tension between the locals and foreign residents, primarily Kurdish emigrants who escaped from Syria, Radio Liberty reports.

A number of local newspapers and web-sites state that Armenians of Bourj Hammoud and Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun, playing a significant role in the country are determined to evict the Syrian Kurds for political disagreements.

Kurds residing in Bourj Hammoud actively oppose the Administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad and are key initiators of protests held in front of Syrian Embassy in Lebanon. Contrary to that, the majority of Lebanese Armenians adopted pro-Syrian position back in 1970s.

Tensions reached a climax last week as Armenians clashed with Kurds returning from another protest outside the Syrian embassy.

Syrian Kurds residing in Beirut argue that Dashnak leaders of Lebanon decided to permanently clear the Armenian district of foreigners.

"Burj Hammoud Municipality has asked all foreigners, whether they are Syrians, Egyptians, Sri Lankans and Filipinos to leave the area if they do not have no identity papers or lease agreements. We never had problems with the Kurds, our peoples have always been in friendly relations," Lebanese parliament MP from ARF Hakob Bagratuni told in an interview to An Nahar.

One of Lebanese channels recently aired a reportage of Bourj Hammoud, where local people - Armenians and Lebanese - were complaining about the sharp deterioration in the criminal situation in the area.

"You would meet anyone here. On Saturdays and Sundays, this street turns into a market of prostitutes," said the owner of one of the shops in Bourj Hammoud.

"The Kurds, as a rule, always carry knifes and razors, Kurdish guys are very rude, they harass local girls. This could be the reason for the severe clashes between Armenians and Kurds. Dashnaks decided to form night patrols to protect the area. As far as I know they do not carry weapons, they protect party offices and jewelry stores,’’ one of Bourj Hammoud Lebanese civilians told NowLebanon.