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Lebanese troops battle militants Lebanese troops battle militants
(about 3 hours later)
Eleven Lebanese soldiers have been killed in clashes with al-Qaeda-linked militants around a Palestinian refugee camp in Tripoli, officials say. Lebanese troops have been battling an Islamic militant group following an attack on soldiers at a Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Tripoli.
Fighting erupted after security forces raided homes in nearby Tripoli to arrest suspects in a bank robbery. At least 10 members of the Fatah Islam group were reportedly killed in a day of fighting against the Lebanese army.
Militants said to belong to the Fatah Islam group then attacked army posts at the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp. Fatah Islam fighters - said to be linked to al-Qaeda - killed at least 13 troops near the Nahr el-Bared camp.
Four militants were killed in the clashes and there are reports of injured civilians inside the camp. There were reports of injured civilians inside the camp, as the army bombarded militants with tanks and heavy weapons.
Hours after violence erupted, Syria temporarily closed two border crossings with northern Lebanon because of security concerns. Residents said at least 40 civilians were injured, AFP news agency said, and a Lebanese army spokesman said another 27 soldiers were injured.
Camp under scrutiny Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom fled their homes when Israel was created in 1948.
Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom who fled their homes when Israel was created in 1948. 'Unprovoked aggression'
The problem began with repeated arrests of our brothers in Tripoli. We've always defended Sunnis in Lebanon Abu SalimFatah Islam spokesman Fighting erupted on Sunday morning after security forces raided a building in Tripoli to arrest suspects in a bank robbery.
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 problem began with repeated arrests of our brothers in Tripoli. We've always defended Sunnis in Lebanon Abu SalimFatah Islam spokesman After resisting arrest, militants said to belong to Fatah Islam then attacked army posts at the entrances to the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp, which is home to some 30,000 displaced Palestinians.
Some 30,000 displaced Palestinians live at the camp, which the military is banned from entering under a 38-year-old deal. The military is banned from entering the camp 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. Several hours later a large force of Lebanese troops hit back at Fatah Islam, storming the building on the outskirts of Tripoli and killing a number of militants.
The Islamist group is alleged to have links with al-Qaeda and Lebanese officials also believe it has ties to Syrian intelligence. Fatah Islam spokesmen portrayed the fighting as an unprovoked aggression by the Lebanese army.
The men reportedly resisted arrest and the violence spread to neighbouring streets. "The problem began with repeated arrests of our brothers in Tripoli. We've always defended Sunnis in Lebanon," a spokesman called Abu Salim told al-Jazeera TV.
Militants then attacked a Lebanese military post at the gate of the camp, seizing several vehicles. Hariri link?
The military sent replacements, which returned fire at alleged Fatah Islam positions. Fatah Islam is a radical Palestinian splinter group alleged to have links with al-Qaeda. Lebanese officials also believe it has ties to Syrian intelligence.
The Lebanese army said that it was now trying to retake positions seized by the militants. Other Palestinian groups have distanced themselves from Fatah Islam, which emerged last year after splitting from a Syrian-backed Palestinian splinter group, says the BBC's Beirut correspondent Jim Muir.
There was more fighting at a house in a nearby residential district, where militants were said to have holed up. After the violence broke out, Syria temporarily closed two border crossings with northern Lebanon because of security concerns.
A Fatah Islam spokesman, Abu Salim, told Al-Jazeera television that the group was only defending itself. 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, our correspondent says.
"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."
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.
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.
Lebanon's Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, said Fatah Islam was making a deliberate attempt to destabilise the country.
The Nahr el-Bared camp has been under scrutiny since two bus bombings in a Christian area of Beirut in February, blamed on Fatah Islam militants based in the camp.