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Lebanon vows to crush militants Fresh clashes in northern Lebanon
(about 2 hours later)
Lebanon's government has vowed to continue its offensive against Fatah Islam, a militant group that killed 23 soldiers in clashes on Sunday. Lebanese troops and Islamist militants have clashed in the city of Tripoli for a second day, after earlier violence left at least 23 soldiers dead.
In all, at least 40 people reportedly died in the violence in the northern city of Tripoli, 15 of them militants. Troops shelled Fatah Islam positions around the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, the focus of much of Sunday's fighting.
It was the bloodiest internal fighting seen in Lebanon since the civil war ended 17 years ago. At least 15 militants were killed in the clashes, Lebanon's bloodiest internal fighting since the civil war ended 17 years ago.
Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said security forces would hunt down the cells of the Islamist group. The information minister said troops would hunt down the Islamist group.
"There are security procedures underway," he said. "There are security procedures under way," Ghazi Aridi said. "We had casualties, but we will continue and those cells have also suffered casualties."
"We had casualties, but we will continue and those cells have also suffered casualties."
Mr Aridi said the militants killed on Sunday included "key leaders who have carried out and have been planning to carry out large attacks".Mr Aridi said the militants killed on Sunday included "key leaders who have carried out and have been planning to carry out large attacks".
Fatah Islam is a radical group based near Tripoli in the refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared, home to some 30,000 displaced Palestinians. The Nahr al-Bared camp houses around 30,000 displaced Palestinians.
Its fugitive leader is alleged to have links to al-Qaeda. Civilians trapped
'Unprovoked aggression' The situation seems to have basically stabilised after the battles on Sunday, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut, with the Lebanese army regaining control of the camp's perimeter.
Fighting erupted on Sunday morning after security forces raided a building in Tripoli to arrest suspects in a bank robbery.
After resisting arrest, militants from Fatah Islam attacked army posts at the entrances to the camp.
Emergency workers evacuated the injured from the blast in BeirutEmergency workers evacuated the injured from the blast in Beirut
Several hours later, a large force of Lebanese troops hit back at Fatah Islam, bombarding the camp and storming a building on the outskirts of Tripoli. But sporadic exchanges of fire continued during the night and in the morning the Lebanese army resumed pounding militant positions on the edge of Nahr al-Bared with tank and artillery fire.
Civilians are trapped inside the camp in worsening conditions.
A handful of wounded have been taken out but it has been impossible to get outside help to many others, our correspondent adds.
Sunday's violence erupted after security forces raided a building in Tripoli to arrest suspects in a bank robbery.
Fatah Islam militants then attacked army posts at the entrances to the camp.
A large force of Lebanese troops hit back, bombarding the camp and storming a building on the outskirts of Tripoli.
Two civilians were killed and 40 were injured, AFP news agency reported. A Lebanese army spokesman said another 27 soldiers were injured.Two civilians were killed and 40 were injured, AFP news agency reported. A Lebanese army spokesman said another 27 soldiers were injured.
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. Later on Sunday, a woman was killed in a bomb blast near a shopping mall in Beirut's largely Christian eastern district of Ashrafieh. At least 10 people are said to have been hurt.
At least two civilians were also killed and a further 40 reportedly hurt in the violence. It is not clear if the blast was linked to the fighting in the north.
Fatah Islam spokesmen portrayed the fighting as unprovoked aggression by the Lebanese army.
"The problem began with repeated arrests of our brothers in Tripoli. We've always defended Sunnis in Lebanon," Abu Salim told al-Jazeera TV.
Splinter groupSplinter group
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 fled their homes when Israel was created in 1948.
The military is banned from entering the Nahr el-Bared camp under a 38-year-old deal. The Nahr el-Bared camp - which the military cannot enter under a 38-year-old deal - 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.
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.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.
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. Other Palestinian groups have distanced themselves from Fatah Islam, which emerged last year after splitting from a Syrian-backed Palestinian splinter group, our correspondent says.
Tribunal 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.
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.
Syria is against the tribunal, and Lebanese government officials have accused Damascus of trying to stir up trouble to head it off.Syria is against the tribunal, and Lebanese government officials have accused Damascus of trying to stir up trouble to head it off.
Later on Sunday, a large explosion sent a plume of black smoke above Beirut.
A woman is reported to have died in the blast in the largely Christian eastern district of Ashrafieh. At least 10 people are said to have been hurt.
The cause of the blast is not yet known.