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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Lebanese troops battle militants | Lebanese troops battle militants |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Eleven Lebanese soldiers have been killed in clashes with al-Qaeda-linked militants around a Palestinian refugee camp in Tripoli, officials say. | Eleven Lebanese soldiers have been killed in clashes with al-Qaeda-linked militants around a Palestinian refugee camp in Tripoli, officials say. |
| Fighting erupted after security forces raided homes in nearby Tripoli to arrest suspects in a bank robbery. | Fighting erupted after security forces raided homes in nearby Tripoli to arrest suspects in a bank robbery. |
| Militants said to belong to the Fatah Islam group then attacked army posts at the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp. | Militants said to belong to the Fatah Islam group then attacked army posts at the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp. |
| Four militants were killed in the clashes and there are reports of injured civilians inside the camp. | Four militants were killed in the clashes and there are reports of injured civilians inside the camp. |
| Hours after violence erupted, Syria temporarily closed two border crossings with northern Lebanon because of security concerns. | Hours after violence erupted, Syria temporarily closed two border crossings with northern Lebanon because of security concerns. |
| Camp under scrutiny | Camp under scrutiny |
| Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom who fled their homes when Israel was created in 1948. | |
| The problem began with repeated arrests of our brothers in Tripoli. We've always defended Sunnis in Lebanon Abu SalimFatah Islam spokesman | The problem began with repeated arrests of our brothers in Tripoli. We've always defended Sunnis in Lebanon Abu SalimFatah Islam spokesman |
| The Nahr el-Bared camp has been under scrutiny since two bus bombings in a Christian area of Beirut in February, which were blamed on Fatah Islam militants based in the camp. | The Nahr el-Bared camp has been under scrutiny since two bus bombings in a Christian area of Beirut in February, which were blamed on Fatah Islam militants based in the camp. |
| Some 30,000 displaced Palestinians live at the camp, which the military is banned from entering under a 38-year-old deal. | Some 30,000 displaced Palestinians live at the camp, which the military is banned from entering under a 38-year-old deal. |
| Fighting began early on Sunday after a police raid on a Tripoli house apparently being used by militants from Fatah Islam. | Fighting began early on Sunday after a police raid on a Tripoli house apparently being used by militants from Fatah Islam. |
| The Islamist group is alleged to have links with al-Qaeda and Lebanese officials also believe it has ties to Syrian intelligence. | The Islamist group is alleged to have links with al-Qaeda and Lebanese officials also believe it has ties to Syrian intelligence. |
| The men reportedly resisted arrest and the violence spread to neighbouring streets. | The men reportedly resisted arrest and the violence spread to neighbouring streets. |
| Militants then attacked a Lebanese military post at the gate of the camp, seizing several vehicles. | Militants then attacked a Lebanese military post at the gate of the camp, seizing several vehicles. |
| The military sent replacements, which returned fire at alleged Fatah Islam positions. | The military sent replacements, which returned fire at alleged Fatah Islam positions. |
| The Lebanese army said that it was now trying to retake positions seized by the militants. | The Lebanese army said that it was now trying to retake positions seized by the militants. |
| There was more fighting at a house in a nearby residential district, where militants were said to have holed up. | There was more fighting at a house in a nearby residential district, where militants were said to have holed up. |
| A Fatah Islam spokesman, Abu Salim, told Al-Jazeera television that the group was only defending itself. | A Fatah Islam spokesman, Abu Salim, told Al-Jazeera television that the group was only defending itself. |
| "The problem began with repeated arrests of our brothers in Tripoli. We've always defended Sunnis in Lebanon," he said. | "The problem began with repeated arrests of our brothers in Tripoli. We've always defended Sunnis in Lebanon," he said. |
| "This was only the latest incident, but it led to a fierce clash and we went to defend them." | "This was only the latest incident, but it led to a fierce clash and we went to defend them." |
| Residents said that at least 12 civilians were injured inside the camp, the Associated Press news agency said, and a Lebanese army spokesman said that another 19 soldiers were injured. | Residents said that at least 12 civilians were injured inside the camp, the Associated Press news agency said, and a Lebanese army spokesman said that another 19 soldiers were injured. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut that some link the eruption in violence to moves at the UN Security Council to set up an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, two years ago. | The BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut that some link the eruption in violence to moves at the UN Security Council to set up an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, two years ago. |
| Syria is against the tribunal, and some Lebanese government sources have accused Damascus of trying to stir up trouble to head it off. | Syria is against the tribunal, and some Lebanese government sources have accused Damascus of trying to stir up trouble to head it off. |